Posted by inmostleaf on October 12, 2008, at 18:13:30
Hello,
I am new here, this is my first post. I have been reading what I can for a long time now, and to be honest sometimes I'm not sure if what I'm reading is what I'm merely looking for.
So that's why I have come to writing this. To get a collective of objective opinions, insights, and even if anyone has something personally related that can add to this discussion.
My primary inquiry/question is the interest in how trauma and chronic stress in late childhood/ early adolescent can directly/indirectly affect development as an adult (I am 26 now)?
I ask because when I was 10 I lost a grandfather, at age 11 two cousins, at age 12 my mother, aunt (her sister), another cousin, and within a year after my father remarried to woman with 3 kids to add to myself and my two sisters. That situation in itself didn't help matters as my father wasn't around to help me and my sisters, and the fact my step-mom at the time was very old-school. She was very brash, authoritative, and just plain cold-hearted. To a point, she was mentally abusive towards me and my sisters.
And so, within 2-3 years after all that happen, in immediate succession went a few other family members on my mother's side. My mother's side had a total of 10 children all from the same mother and father, and today there are only 2 left. All the rest have died from some form of cancer.
Over the course of ages 13 to 26 I've saw a host of professionals that have diagnosed me with Major Depression/Clinical, Generalized & Social Anxiety Disorder, Social Phobia, Bipolar I & II, Dysthymia/Atypical, Mixed-State Anxiety-Depression, and ADD-I. The most frequent diagnosis has been Dysthymia + ADD-I + symptoms of PTSD.
Throughout these diagnosis I've had no other choice but to dig deeper into them. It is not that I disagree with the doctors of the DD,ADD-I,PTSD, it's rather I'm looking to find the why's and how's. So hopefully I've given enough info to get some insight.
One of the why's and how's I'm wondering about is how the HPA-Axis can be effected due to the chronic stress/trauma, and if that can result in permanent damage to the brain. Ultimately leading to physiological problems and behavioral/mental problems.
Another is... from what I understand there can be the permanent alteration of catecholamines ; specifically the mesocorticolimbic dopamine pathway, and also other various neurotransmitters and hormonal pathways.
Lastly, if it matters at all the other reason I'm writing this is to gain a better understanding not only for myself, but also for when I graduate and become a Social Worker. I have always thought that the whole point is if you deal with trials & tribulations yourself there are always people, especially the youth you can exert influences upon then maybe you can put these people in a mentality that will be beneficial to them later on. And that is the only hope I can possibly have.
So, if you made it this far I look forward to hearing your thoughts. Thanks.
Take a break, have a Jazz.
poster:inmostleaf
thread:857107
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20081006/msgs/857107.html