Thanks for the CDC link. What I got out of it is traumatized children when they become adults have an increased risk of depression and risky behavior.
Is there any advantage for being depressed in a traumatic environment? I read one argument is that by shutting down higher order mental and physical processes, we can use the saved energy to heal? Does that hold any water?
If a child’s caretaker or environment are hostile, a reduction in the normal childhood activity that is likely to attract subsequent negative attention can be beneficial for survival to the extent it allows for possible reproduction. “The nail that sticks up gets hammered”.
To be clear, this is typical evolutionary speculation. Sounds reasonable, but I’ve not seen anything that would be able to prove this and there are likely many other considerations that complicate such a nice and easy conclusion.
This was actually the case with me. Constantly told children should be seen and not heard, don't speak unless spoken to, all manner of things like that. My wings were clipped good.
Increases in autoimmune diseases, cancers, and even COPD controlled against smoking habits are observed. The body doesn't handle increased stress hormones well during childhood development.
Tl;dr: childhood mental trauma manifests in physical issues.
For a solid intro, check out her ted talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/nadine_burke_harris_how_childhood_...
Edit: ah, referenced in the article: https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/aces/index.html