April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month

I was chatting with someone the other day about how early childhood trauma affects the brain, and they couldn’t comprehend how the brain wouldn’t remember things but the body would.  He couldn’t plug it into his understanding that rebellious or disobedient behavior could actually be a manifestation of childhood trauma.  A child couldn’t possibly be cognitively be aware of that choice between selfishness “I want it” mentality vs. “I can’t help it” behavior.  So how would one be able to discern whether a child’s behavior is simply a matter of exerting control over their lives, or that their behavior is a protection mechanism that their body has learned from trauma?  Which is it?  Is there something wrong with you or is this about something that happened TO you?  For parents, teachers, caseworkers, business owners and everyone else, this is certainly a hot topic, and no doubt a daily dilemma, when it comes to understanding child abuse in all of its evil forms.  I want to encourage you that even in our busy schedules, it is imperative that we give our hearts, minds and souls to the work of understanding trauma and how childhood abuse exacerbates behaviors in the adolescent and young adult years.  We owe it to future generations to help them build resilience by preventing childhood abuse.  Remember it's only information plus application that yields transformation!  As you learn more, you’ll know more and see more! 

Alan Meyers
Safe Harbor Coordinator
Connecting Communities in Action