A “brave, compassionate, and rigorous guide for everyone” (Christina Bethell, PhD, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health) that reveals the connection between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and illnesses, as well as how to manage and heal from these emotional wounds. Your biography becomes your biology. The emotional trauma we experience as children not only shapes our emotional lives as adults but also affects our physical health, long-term survival, and overall well-being. Scientists now know at a biochemical level exactly how chronic parental fighting, divorce, death in the family, bullying or pressure, and being raised by a hypercritical, alcoholic, or mentally ill parent can leave permanent, physical “imprints” on our brain. When children face sudden or chronic adversity, stress hormones cause powerful changes in the body, altering its chemistry. The developing immune system and the brain respond to this chemical onslaught by permanently resetting the child's stress response to “high,” which in turn can have devastating consequences for their mental and physical health as they grow. Donna Jackson Nakazawa shares stories from individuals who have recognized and overcome their difficult experiences, showing why some children are more resilient to stress than others, and explaining why women are at particular risk. “Groundbreaking” (Tara Brach, PhD, author of Radical Acceptance) in its research, inspirational in its clarity, Childhood Disrupted explains how you can reset your biology—and help your loved ones find ways to heal. “A truly important gift of understanding—illuminates the emotional cost of childhood trauma and, like good medicine, offers the promising science of healing and prevention” (Jack Kornfield, author of A Path With Heart).

Pages: 304, Year of Publication: 0503, Dimensions: 14x14cm