SFP 023 | How Childhood Trauma Rewires the Developing Brain; Tolerable Stress Versus Toxic Stress; and The Devastating Impact of Childhood Sexual Abuse with Dr Michael Gurian

Childhood trauma is devastating. When a child's brain develops it is exquisitely sensitive to stress - before and after birth. Stress hormones literally rewire the brain, affect healthy attachment, and impair the development of pathways that promote self-regulation. This means that when we see highly dysregulated behaviour it is often due to childhood trauma. In this episode we talk with psychologist Dr Michael Gurian about different types of trauma and how they affect child development - causing not only mental health issues but also physical illness even decades later. Learn more about the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study and what you can do to prevent the harmful effect of ACEs in your own children. Dr Gurian also shares his own experience with childhood sexual abuse. (Please be aware that we speak frankly about sexual abuse in this episode).