Is Trauma for Real?
Many people are skeptical about the effects of traumatic experiences and early childhood adversity, believing that the past is the past and that the best thing to do is simply to move on. For example, one person shared how they thought ignoring their painful past would make it disappear. Yet, research tells a profoundly different story—one backed by compelling data and lives forever changed. This post explores the science behind trauma, stories of healing, and the hope found in faith.
The Impact of Trauma in Childhood Experiences
The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that trauma and neglect in childhood lead to dramatically higher risks for serious health problems. Those with an ACE score of 4 or more (who experienced multiple traumas growing up) were:
Twelve times more likely to attempt suicide
Ten times more likely to struggle with alcoholism
Nine times more likely to suffer depression
Nearly four times more likely to have heart disease, cancer, or respiratory illnesses
More than 60% of adults report at least one traumatic experience, highlighting trauma as a widespread public health concern [CDC ACE Study].
How Trauma Alters the Developing Brain
Young brains are especially sensitive during development. As our brains form, they create the framework through which we interpret later experiences. For instance, growing up with safe, loving parents leads us to believe others are generally safe and trustworthy. In contrast, a chaotic environment may teach us that life is unpredictable and that we are helpless. These core beliefs often follow us into adulthood unless challenged.
Trauma causes physical changes in the brain, such as shrinking the hippocampus by up to 6% and affecting the prefrontal cortex, which controls reasoning and self-regulation, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) [NIMH Trauma Effects]. When triggered, the brain signals that the present moment is the same as the past trauma. Stress hormones flood the body, lowering our functional IQ, disrupting learning, and impairing our ability to connect with others.
Imagine a kitten whose eye is covered during a key early stage, preventing the brain from wiring the ability to see from that eye, causing permanent blindness. Trauma works similarly by reshaping brain areas critical for learning, emotional regulation, and connection. Simply put, trauma is too much or too unpredictable; neglect is too little of what was needed.
Trauma Stays With Us—A Time Machine Stored in Our Memories
Consider Stan, a man who survived a severe car accident. Decades later, reminders of his accident caused his heart rate to spike and his brain to react as if the trauma was current. Trauma lives not just in memories but as a physical imprint on the brain and body.
Trauma acts like a "time machine," pulling us back to painful moments and triggering core beliefs such as “I am not good enough,” “I am not safe,” or “It’s all my fault.” Unlike fleeting emotions, these wounds are deeply wired into our neural pathways and resurface over time, influencing daily life.
Healing requires courage: you must engage with these painful memories to rewire your brain. Facing our wounds activates neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to form new, healthier connections [Journal of Neuroplasticity in Trauma]. This process rewrites old narratives and opens the door to safety, worth, and peace.
Does Trauma Have to Last Forever?
Christ-centered and clinically informed healing offers profound hope. A 2015 study by Pargament et al. analyzing over 10,000 adult trauma survivors found that a deep faith commitment and positive use of spiritual practices—including forgiveness—were significantly linked to fewer symptoms of depression and PTSD [Pargament et al. 2015].
Counseling methods like EMDR and the Flash Technique help us cope with trauma and reprocess original memories, breaking the "time machine" and helping the body recognize past memories as belonging to the past. When combined with prayer and inner healing focused on God’s truth about our core identity, healing becomes even more powerful.
Trauma’s core lies—fear, shame, false identity—can be transformed through therapy and prayer. As treatment rewires neural pathways, a miraculous gift from God, we increasingly experience freedom to trust God’s truths about ourselves and others. Faith anchors healing in God’s unchanging love, safety, and forgiveness, freeing us from old lies and grounding our identity in His present reality.
A Call to Hope
These stories and data reveal trauma as real, lasting biological injuries—not just sad memories. Recognizing this calls us to compassionate, trauma-informed care, early intervention, and safe spaces for healing. It invites us beyond skepticism toward empathy and action grounded in science and faith, fostering true inner healing.
If you or someone you love carry unseen wounds, know healing is possible. As you reflect on this post:
Have trauma’s hidden marks shaped you or a loved one? You are not alone. Trauma reaches far beyond memories, touching every part of life.
What small step toward healing might you take today?
If you’re ready to learn more about how you can embrace your identity Christ to help you overcome anxiety, depression or other mental health issues, you’ve come to the right place.
Book an appointment or free 15 minute consult today at Growth Counseling. https://growth-counseling.clientsecure.me/
Sources for citation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Effects of Trauma on Brain Development
Journal of Neuroplasticity and Trauma Recovery
Pargament, K., et al. (2015), Study on Faith Commitment and Trauma Recovery
