The neuro-biological impact of major adverse childhood experiences can have ripple effects well into the future. Major childhood adversities like Childhood Domestic Violence (CDV) – when no caring adults is in present to help buffer their impact – tend to lead to chronic stress responses or toxic stress. Toxic stress damages the architecture of the developing brain, which in turn leads to a myriad of lifelong negative consequences related to physical and mental health, behavior, and relationships.
A caring adult can do a lot to help reduce or offset much of the negative impact by providing a buffer against the toxic stress in the form of support and positive reinforcement, as well as modeling healthy coping mechanisms that further a child’s resiliency and capacity to overcome the impact. With little effort, caring adults can have a big impact.
To read more and watch the video, click here for the full guide, “Toxic Stress Derails Health Development” by the Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University, https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/toxic-stress-derails-healthy-development/
CDVA’s unprecedented CHANGE A LIFE online program – the first of its kind globally, built by the leading researcher on children and domestic violence and endorsed by the U.S. Fund for UNICEF – can train any caring adult in 40 minutes or less how to step in and become THE ONE for a child impacted by a major adversity. Best of all, the program is self administered and free. Visit CHANGE A LIFE to learn more.