Soul Sustenance: Childhood Trauma

An alarming statistic reports that 37% of American children are reported to Child Protective Services by their 18th birthday, exposing the widespread crisis of family trauma. However, for many, this trauma remains unspoken, hindering the healing process. To discuss this further, and discuss healing, I would love to introduce you to mental health professionals, psychotherapist Duygu Balan and board-certified psychiatrist Dr. Yener Balan, they are leading the charge to address this urgent issue head-on. Duygu Balan, LPCC, an expert in intergenerational trauma, and Dr. Yener Balan, MD, DFAPA, a distinguished psychiatrist and healthcare executive, have co-authored Re-Write: A Trauma Workbook of Creative Writing and Recovery in Our New Normal.


Family trauma inflicts deep scars, profoundly impacting emotional well-being and overall quality of life. Leveraging their expertise and extensive experience, the Balans provide invaluable insights and strategies to guide individuals in healing from the lasting wounds caused by childhood neglect and other adverse experiences.

Understanding the powerful influence of family dynamics on mental health, the Balans stress the crucial significance of comprehending the impact of childhood neglect and trauma. By exploring the formation of connections with caregivers and the effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), they shed light on protective factors and evidence-based interventions.

I had a chance to learn more in this interview.

Why is it important to recognize the effects of childhood trauma, especially in light of the last few years?

Childhood trauma, such as violent, dangerous, life-threatening events, often elicit fear responses and can violate emotional and bodily integrity. Time limited or single incidents such as car accidents, or natural disasters (e.g. floods or earthquakes) can be detrimental to the child's mental wellbeing. Ongoing stress, such as living in a violent neighborhood, witnessing a war, being a refugee, having abusive or emotionally unavailable parents, or being bullied in school, can take a major psychological toll on children. Childhood trauma does not have to involve experiences that occur directly to the child. Watching a loved one being abused or hurt can be extremely traumatic as can exposure to violent media.

Following a traumatic experience, children may exhibit signs of acute stress including behavioral and emotional symptoms.

Symptoms to watch out for if your child experienced a traumatic incident include:

• Acting younger than they are (such as bed wetting or sucking their thumb)
• Attention problems
• Mood swings
• Feeling depressed or anxious
• Pre-occupied with fears or phobias
• Difficulty in socializing (acting overly shy)
• Irritability
• Anger issues
• Poor school performance
• Trouble sleeping
• Changes in eating patterns
• Loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed
• They may appear to be detached, numb, or non-responsive
• Somatic, bodily complaints such as headaches or stomachaches
• Research has shown that long-term effects of childhood trauma can lead to learning disabilities, legal problems, inability to maintain relationships, academic and employment challenges, and ongoing physical and mental health concerns.

After a traumatic incident help your child understand that it was not their fault. Reassure them that you will do everything in your power to keep them safe. Have open communication with them and answer all their questions. Encourage your child to talk about their feelings and validate their emotions. Be in tune with their needs, allow them to recover at their own pace while sticking to a daily routine as much as possible.

How can people work to reduce the stigma around addiction recovery and mental health?

Even though there is still room for growth, it is undeniable that there has been an increase in awareness of mental health, and a decrease in the stigma of reaching out for help. With the global pandemic, symptoms of depression, anxiety, and trauma have all been amplified. There has been an increase in domestic violence, substance use, and general mental health concerns. The demand for mental health services has increased tremendously.

The most important aspect of reducing stigma is education. Clearly defining mental health struggles as well as identifying and advertising resources is critical. In recent years, we are seeing more and more representation in mainstream media about addiction recovery, therapy, mental illness, domestic violence and abuse. It is important to keep having these conversations in our communities.

How can creative writing help people process trauma?

Creative writing is a constructive tool for self-exploration as it allows us to access parts of ourselves, we may not have access in talk-therapy. It allows for the traumatic events to be processed and for the emotions attached to the memories to be expressed. Creative writing allows us to pay attention to our body and trains us to regulate our nervous system. It helps identify patterns, make sense of our behaviors and reframe our perceptions. It leads to wholeness and healing as it increases self-compassion.