{"id":71458,"date":"2025-03-13T11:01:34","date_gmt":"2025-03-13T11:01:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/?p=71458"},"modified":"2025-03-13T11:01:34","modified_gmt":"2025-03-13T11:01:34","slug":"developmental-trauma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/developmental-trauma\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Developmental Trauma and How Do You Identify it?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_75 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/developmental-trauma\/#What_Does_Developmental_Trauma_Look_Like_in_Adults\" >What Does Developmental Trauma Look Like in Adults?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/developmental-trauma\/#What_Are_the_7_Domains_of_Developmental_Trauma\" >What Are the 7 Domains of Developmental Trauma?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/developmental-trauma\/#Attachment\" >Attachment<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/developmental-trauma\/#Biology\" >Biology<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/developmental-trauma\/#Affect_Regulation\" >Affect Regulation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/developmental-trauma\/#Dissociation\" >Dissociation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/developmental-trauma\/#Behavioral_Control\" >Behavioral Control<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/developmental-trauma\/#Cognition\" >Cognition<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/developmental-trauma\/#Differences_Between_Complex_Trauma_and_Developmental_Trauma\" >Differences Between Complex Trauma and Developmental Trauma?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/developmental-trauma\/#How_Do_You_Release_Developmental_Trauma\" >How Do You Release Developmental Trauma?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/developmental-trauma\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions\" >Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/developmental-trauma\/#What_is_developmental_trauma\" >What is developmental trauma?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/developmental-trauma\/#Is_developmental_trauma_the_same_as_shock_trauma\" >Is developmental trauma the same as shock trauma?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/developmental-trauma\/#What_are_the_three_types_of_trauma\" >What are the three types of trauma?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/developmental-trauma\/#Is_developmental_trauma_disorder_another_name_for_PTSD\" >Is developmental trauma disorder another name for PTSD?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/developmental-trauma\/#The_Bottom_Line\" >The Bottom Line<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many people experience a variety of traumatic events and experiences throughout their lives and experiencing trauma at any point can have a profound impact on an individual\u2019s mental and physical well-being. Developmental trauma is trauma that occurs when you\u2019re a child, specifically before full language capabilities have developed (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/profile\/Evgenia-Gkintoni\/publication\/362109540_DEVELOPMENTAL_TRAUMA_AND_NEUROCOGNITION_IN_YOUNG_ADULTS_A_SYSTEMATIC_REVIEW\/links\/62e013d43c0ea878875c8504\/DEVELOPMENTAL-TRAUMA-AND-NEUROCOGNITION-IN-YOUNG-ADULTS-A-SYSTEMATIC-REVIEW.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-sheets-root=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mind.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated?flow=1916&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Developmental_Trauma\" target=\"_blank\"><video autoplay=\"autoplay\" loop=\"loop\" muted=\"muted\" playsinline=\"playsinline\" width=\"777\"><source src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/understandyourfeelings_gif-ezgif.com-gif-to-mp4-converter.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\" \/><\/video><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recalling and processing these memories can be dangerous, so it\u2019s common for people to disassociate from them to make sure the memories aren\u2019t pieced together. Doing this can result in issues with controlling emotions, concentrating, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/somatic-exercises-for-anger\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">managing anger<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and socializing. It can also cause somatic problems and issues with affect and exploration (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/profile\/Evgenia-Gkintoni\/publication\/362109540_DEVELOPMENTAL_TRAUMA_AND_NEUROCOGNITION_IN_YOUNG_ADULTS_A_SYSTEMATIC_REVIEW\/links\/62e013d43c0ea878875c8504\/DEVELOPMENTAL-TRAUMA-AND-NEUROCOGNITION-IN-YOUNG-ADULTS-A-SYSTEMATIC-REVIEW.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This means that when the trauma occurs, the child cannot properly communicate their feelings or experiences related to it, which leads to developmental issues throughout childhood and often in adulthood. These issues may not be able to be properly evaluated due to the inability of the person to properly recall what happened after failing to communicate it or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-cope-with-childhood-trauma\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">properly cope<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with it when younger (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/profile\/Evgenia-Gkintoni\/publication\/362109540_DEVELOPMENTAL_TRAUMA_AND_NEUROCOGNITION_IN_YOUNG_ADULTS_A_SYSTEMATIC_REVIEW\/links\/62e013d43c0ea878875c8504\/DEVELOPMENTAL-TRAUMA-AND-NEUROCOGNITION-IN-YOUNG-ADULTS-A-SYSTEMATIC-REVIEW.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Dealing with this later in life requires <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/12-guided-somatic-exercises\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">therapy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and persistence.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Does_Developmental_Trauma_Look_Like_in_Adults\"><\/span><strong>What Does Developmental Trauma Look Like in Adults?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Due to the developmental and emotional impact trauma has on children who experience it, the related issues often follow them into adulthood. This is particularly true for children who were never exposed to proper social relationships and caregiving following their traumatic experiences. It can be quite challenging to understand <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-deal-with-childhood-trauma\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">how to deal with childhood trauma as an adult<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and it can take a lot of time and dedication to work through.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The long-term effects these experiences may have on adults can depend on the frequency of trauma experienced and the age at which it was experienced. Studies have shown that the earlier in life the trauma was experienced, the greater the impact it is likely to have on psychological functioning and health in adulthood (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1002\/jts.22697\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3806884\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/effects-of-childhood-trauma-in-adulthood\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">adults who have experienced childhood trauma<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> end up with PTSD symptoms such as dissociation and dysregulation. Attachment security issues are also a common struggle for adults who experienced trauma as children (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1002\/jts.22697\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). These adults may also struggle with mental health issues later in life, have poor physical health, and feel as if their lives lack meaning (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3806884\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Disclaimer: If you are experiencing any mental health conditions, including PTSD, please consult a mental health specialist.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mind.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated?flow=1916&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Developmental_Trauma\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-67961\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/4522-10-signs-of-trauma-bonding-1024x640.png\" alt=\"Developmental Trauma\" width=\"770\" height=\"481\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/4522-10-signs-of-trauma-bonding.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/4522-10-signs-of-trauma-bonding-300x188.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/4522-10-signs-of-trauma-bonding.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/4522-10-signs-of-trauma-bonding-1472x920.png 1472w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/4522-10-signs-of-trauma-bonding.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Are_the_7_Domains_of_Developmental_Trauma\"><\/span><strong>What Are the 7 Domains of Developmental Trauma?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Developmental trauma affects every area of the way a child develops and functions. The 7 domains of impairment related to developmental trauma are attachment, biology, emotional regulation, dissociation, behavioral control, cognitive processes, and self-concept (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/1471-244X-13-3.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/psycnet.apa.org\/record\/2005-05449-005\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Attachment\"><\/span><strong>Attachment<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This domain focuses on the way bonds are formed with caregivers and the development of a sense of security. When attachment formation is disrupted or difficult, there will likely be issues with trust and fear of abandonment in current and future relationships.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Biology\"><\/span><strong>Biology<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When high levels of stress and abuse occur early in life, this can lead to dysfunction in the brain, or a change in neurobiology, which may have long-term effects on health and quality of life later on. This happens due to the triggering of the fight-or-flight response on a regular basis, which causes excessive release of corticosteroids that cannot be seen or controlled (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3232061\/?TB_iframe=true&amp;width=921.6&amp;height=921.6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Affect_Regulation\"><\/span><strong>Affect Regulation<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Due to trauma causing intense feelings that often can\u2019t be dealt with, this can lead to issues with being able to identify, manage, and express emotions in the appropriate ways. Regulating emotions also becomes challenging.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>If you wish to reach into the deep crevices of your mind, take yourself out of the mental loop, regain balance, infuse yourself with optimism, and cultivate compassion &#8211; <a class=\"in-cell-link\" href=\"https:\/\/mind.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated?flow=1916&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Developmental_Trauma\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">BetterMe: Meditation &amp; Sleep <\/a>app is exactly what you need!<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Dissociation\"><\/span><strong>Dissociation<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When trauma is experienced, a person often mentally disconnects from the moment they\u2019re in as a way of coping with it. When this happens, they tend to feel detached from their surroundings and often even from themselves (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/psycnet.apa.org\/record\/2005-05449-005\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). This can make a person unable to recall old memories and form new ones, and challenge their ability to learn and assimilate new information (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/1471-244X-13-3.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Behavioral_Control\"><\/span><strong>Behavioral Control<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Behaving in appropriate ways can be challenging for <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/do-i-have-childhood-trauma\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">people with childhood trauma.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It may be difficult to control impulses and they may be aggressive at times or harm themselves. This is most likely due to neurobiological changes that have occurred as a result of the trauma.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cognition\"><\/span><strong>Cognition<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This includes multiple aspects of brain functioning such as memory, attention, concentration, and problem-solving. Issues occur in these areas due to the cognition-related brain areas being impacted by the early-life stress of trauma. Most commonly, the hippocampus (which is responsible for making and storing memories) is impacted (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/profile\/Evgenia-Gkintoni\/publication\/362109540_DEVELOPMENTAL_TRAUMA_AND_NEUROCOGNITION_IN_YOUNG_ADULTS_A_SYSTEMATIC_REVIEW\/links\/62e013d43c0ea878875c8504\/DEVELOPMENTAL-TRAUMA-AND-NEUROCOGNITION-IN-YOUNG-ADULTS-A-SYSTEMATIC-REVIEW.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Read more:<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/trauma-release-therapy\/\"> Trauma Release Therapy: What It Is, Types, and Getting Started<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Differences_Between_Complex_Trauma_and_Developmental_Trauma\"><\/span><strong>Differences Between Complex Trauma and Developmental Trauma?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Developmental trauma and complex trauma are both traumas of an interpersonal nature, but they have different origins, and the way that they manifest and the contexts in which they occur are different. Complex trauma occurs when there is prolonged or repeated exposure to trauma that occurs during crucial developmental windows. This can be during early childhood or adolescence (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ingentaconnect.com\/content\/ben\/aps\/2017\/00000007\/00000004\/art00003\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Complex trauma can have long-lasting and detrimental effects on a person\u2019s mental and physical health, but it doesn\u2019t impact the actual development of the person as much. Complex trauma tends to result in issues with biopsychosocial self-regulation due to having people intentionally cause them physical and\/or emotional harm from which they cannot escape. This is likely to cause constant worry and insecurity throughout their life (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ingentaconnect.com\/content\/ben\/aps\/2017\/00000007\/00000004\/art00003\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Essentially, complex trauma causes a lot of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/somatic-emotional-release\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">emotional scarring <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and makes it difficult for people who have experienced it to trust that other people can have good intentions, as the common \u2018social contract\u2019 most humans have has been broken in their experience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>If you\u2019ve dipped your toes in meditation before but couldn\u2019t sit through a session because of all the thoughts buzzing in your head, impulses snatching away control or all the overwhelming feelings that start bubbling up the minute you sink into the silence, it\u2019s only because you didn\u2019t have the right guidance. <a class=\"in-cell-link\" href=\"https:\/\/mind.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated?flow=1916&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Developmental_Trauma\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Start using BetterMe: Meditation &amp; Sleep app<\/a> and watch your life transform!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Developmental trauma is a type of complex trauma that occurs during childhood and impacts the developmental trajectories of individuals due to the fact that it tends to remain <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/unresolved-childhood-trauma\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">unresolved trauma.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> While they may have social issues and not trust people, they also tend to struggle with biological, cognitive, emotional, and spiritual development. Their self-esteem and feelings of being wanted and cared for by others can struggle significantly too (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/journals\/psychiatry\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyt.2022.800687\/full\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">9<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Developmental trauma is the result of being exposed to life-threatening events that take place when they\u2019re infants or children. Unlike complex trauma, developmental trauma symptoms are unlikely to occur if this exposure is only present during adolescence. This is because at that point, attachments have already been formed and early developmental stages have already passed (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/journals\/psychiatry\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyt.2022.800687\/full\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">9<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Read more:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/8-childhood-traumas\/\">8 Childhood Traumas: Recognizing the Signs and Finding Healing<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Do_You_Release_Developmental_Trauma\"><\/span><strong>How Do You Release Developmental Trauma?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Developmental trauma is held onto by the nervous system as this is a natural stress response. Intense and prolonged stress can impact the way a person\u2019s nervous system functions because the body tries to protect itself. The way a person with developmental trauma responds to future stress may seem odd and excessive to others. As the trauma is so heavily rooted within the nervous system, one of the best ways to release it is by engaging in treatments that calm and heal the nervous system (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.margarete-koenning-counselling.com.au\/uploads\/1\/3\/0\/6\/13068908\/somatic_expressions_of_trauma_in_experiential_play_therapy.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Somatic symptoms are common in people with developmental trauma and because of this, engaging in activities such as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/somatic-massage\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">somatic massage<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, stretching, and exercise (such as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/effects-of-childhood-trauma-in-adulthood\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">somatic yoga<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/somatic-dance\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">somatic dance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) can be quite helpful. All of these treatments are meant to soothe the nervous system and encourage the release of trauma and potentially built-up emotions that are being held within the body. This can be just one of the ways to work toward <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/overcoming-childhood-trauma\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">overcoming childhood trauma.\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mind.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated?flow=1916&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Developmental_Trauma\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-61346\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/how-to-heal-childhood-trauma-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Developmental Trauma\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/how-to-heal-childhood-trauma.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/how-to-heal-childhood-trauma-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/how-to-heal-childhood-trauma.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/how-to-heal-childhood-trauma-1636x920.png 1636w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span data-sheets-root=\"1\"><h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions\"><\/span><b>Frequently Asked Questions<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><ul><li><h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_developmental_trauma\"><\/span><strong>What is developmental trauma?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Developmental trauma is trauma that occurs as a result of being exposed to adverse experiences during crucial developmental windows as an infant or child.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul><li><h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_developmental_trauma_the_same_as_shock_trauma\"><\/span><strong>Is developmental trauma the same as shock trauma?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These two types of trauma are related as they both have some of the same side effects or symptoms, but they\u2019re not the same. Developmental trauma is the result of prolonged or repeated exposure to trauma and shock trauma is a type of acute trauma that is a result of exposure to a single traumatic and shocking event or experience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul><li><h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_the_three_types_of_trauma\"><\/span><strong>What are the three types of trauma?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The three types of trauma are complex trauma, acute trauma, and chronic trauma. <\/span><\/p>\n<ul><li><h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_developmental_trauma_disorder_another_name_for_PTSD\"><\/span><strong>Is developmental trauma disorder another name for PTSD?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People with developmental trauma typically have PTSD, but it is not specific to developmental trauma.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Disclaimer: If you are experiencing any mental health conditions, including PTSD, please consult a mental health specialist.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-sheets-root=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mind.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated?flow=1916&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Developmental_Trauma\" target=\"_blank\"><video autoplay=\"autoplay\" loop=\"loop\" muted=\"muted\" playsinline=\"playsinline\" width=\"777\"><source src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/understandyourfeelings_gif-ezgif.com-gif-to-mp4-converter.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\" \/><\/video><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Bottom_Line\"><\/span><strong>The Bottom Line<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many adults who have faced adversity in childhood show remarkable resilience, yet experiences such as abuse or other challenges during early years can have long-term effects. These past experiences may contribute to difficulties with emotional regulation, behavior, problem-solving, self-esteem, and other aspects of life.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As this type of trauma has such a profound impact on the nervous system and general development, working through it as a child is almost impossible, and trying to work through it as an adult is challenging in many ways. By utilizing different somatic treatments and other therapies, adults may be able to slowly cope with the long-term effects of developmental trauma.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Many people experience a variety of traumatic events and experiences throughout their lives and experiencing trauma at any point can have a profound impact on an individual\u2019s mental and physical well-being. Developmental trauma is trauma that occurs when you\u2019re a child, specifically before full language capabilities have developed (1). Recalling and processing these memories can [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":71459,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[225],"tags":[],"coauthors":[45],"class_list":["post-71458","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-trauma"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v20.2.1 (Yoast SEO v25.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What Is Developmental Trauma and How Do You Identify it? - BetterMe<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"\u2605 DEVELOPMENTAL TRAUMA \u27a4 occurs during infancy and childhood and can have a long-lasting and detrimental impact that lasts into adulthood.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, nofollow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Is Developmental Trauma and How Do You Identify it?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\u2605 DEVELOPMENTAL TRAUMA \u27a4 occurs during infancy and childhood and can have a long-lasting and detrimental impact that lasts into adulthood.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/developmental-trauma\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"BetterMe Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"#\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/4523-developmental-trauma-1024x640.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"640\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"BetterMe\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@betterme\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@betterme\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"BetterMe\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/developmental-trauma\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/developmental-trauma\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"BetterMe\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/46a2559fa95a734cb81f6fc6a2c3f404\"},\"headline\":\"What Is Developmental Trauma and How Do You Identify it?\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/developmental-trauma\/\"},\"wordCount\":1513,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/developmental-trauma\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/4523-developmental-trauma.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"Trauma\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"articleBody\":\"<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Many people experience a variety of traumatic events and experiences throughout their lives and experiencing trauma at any point can have a profound impact on an individual\u2019s mental and physical well-being. Developmental trauma is trauma that occurs when you\u2019re a child, specifically before full language capabilities have developed (<\/span><a href=\\\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/profile\/Evgenia-Gkintoni\/publication\/362109540_DEVELOPMENTAL_TRAUMA_AND_NEUROCOGNITION_IN_YOUNG_ADULTS_A_SYSTEMATIC_REVIEW\/links\/62e013d43c0ea878875c8504\/DEVELOPMENTAL-TRAUMA-AND-NEUROCOGNITION-IN-YOUNG-ADULTS-A-SYSTEMATIC-REVIEW.pdf\\\"><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">1<\/span><\/a><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">).<\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n<span data-sheets-root=\\\"1\\\"><\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Recalling and processing these memories can be dangerous, so it\u2019s common for people to disassociate from them to make sure the memories aren\u2019t pieced together. Doing this can result in issues with controlling emotions, concentrating, <\/span><a href=\\\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/somatic-exercises-for-anger\/\\\"><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">managing anger<\/span><\/a><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">, and socializing. It can also cause somatic problems and issues with affect and exploration (<\/span><a href=\\\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/profile\/Evgenia-Gkintoni\/publication\/362109540_DEVELOPMENTAL_TRAUMA_AND_NEUROCOGNITION_IN_YOUNG_ADULTS_A_SYSTEMATIC_REVIEW\/links\/62e013d43c0ea878875c8504\/DEVELOPMENTAL-TRAUMA-AND-NEUROCOGNITION-IN-YOUNG-ADULTS-A-SYSTEMATIC-REVIEW.pdf\\\"><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">1<\/span><\/a><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">).<\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">This means that when the trauma occurs, the child cannot properly communicate their feelings or experiences related to it, which leads to developmental issues throughout childhood and often in adulthood. 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- BetterMe","description":"\u2605 DEVELOPMENTAL TRAUMA \u27a4 occurs during infancy and childhood and can have a long-lasting and detrimental impact that lasts into adulthood.","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"nofollow"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"What Is Developmental Trauma and How Do You Identify it?","og_description":"\u2605 DEVELOPMENTAL TRAUMA \u27a4 occurs during infancy and childhood and can have a long-lasting and detrimental impact that lasts into adulthood.","og_url":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/developmental-trauma\/","og_site_name":"BetterMe Blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching","article_author":"#","og_image":[{"width":1024,"height":640,"url":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/4523-developmental-trauma-1024x640.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"BetterMe","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@betterme","twitter_site":"@betterme","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"BetterMe","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/developmental-trauma\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/developmental-trauma\/"},"author":{"name":"BetterMe","@id":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/46a2559fa95a734cb81f6fc6a2c3f404"},"headline":"What Is Developmental Trauma and How Do You Identify it?","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/developmental-trauma\/"},"wordCount":1513,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/developmental-trauma\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/4523-developmental-trauma.png","articleSection":["Trauma"],"inLanguage":"en-US","articleBody":"<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many people experience a variety of traumatic events and experiences throughout their lives and experiencing trauma at any point can have a profound impact on an individual\u2019s mental and physical well-being. Developmental trauma is trauma that occurs when you\u2019re a child, specifically before full language capabilities have developed (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/profile\/Evgenia-Gkintoni\/publication\/362109540_DEVELOPMENTAL_TRAUMA_AND_NEUROCOGNITION_IN_YOUNG_ADULTS_A_SYSTEMATIC_REVIEW\/links\/62e013d43c0ea878875c8504\/DEVELOPMENTAL-TRAUMA-AND-NEUROCOGNITION-IN-YOUNG-ADULTS-A-SYSTEMATIC-REVIEW.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span data-sheets-root=\"1\"><\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recalling and processing these memories can be dangerous, so it\u2019s common for people to disassociate from them to make sure the memories aren\u2019t pieced together. Doing this can result in issues with controlling emotions, concentrating, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/somatic-exercises-for-anger\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">managing anger<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and socializing. It can also cause somatic problems and issues with affect and exploration (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/profile\/Evgenia-Gkintoni\/publication\/362109540_DEVELOPMENTAL_TRAUMA_AND_NEUROCOGNITION_IN_YOUNG_ADULTS_A_SYSTEMATIC_REVIEW\/links\/62e013d43c0ea878875c8504\/DEVELOPMENTAL-TRAUMA-AND-NEUROCOGNITION-IN-YOUNG-ADULTS-A-SYSTEMATIC-REVIEW.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This means that when the trauma occurs, the child cannot properly communicate their feelings or experiences related to it, which leads to developmental issues throughout childhood and often in adulthood. These issues may not be able to be properly evaluated due to the inability of the perso ..."},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/developmental-trauma\/","url":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/developmental-trauma\/","name":"What Is Developmental Trauma and How Do You Identify it? - BetterMe","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/developmental-trauma\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/developmental-trauma\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/4523-developmental-trauma.png","description":"\u2605 DEVELOPMENTAL TRAUMA \u27a4 occurs during infancy and childhood and can have a long-lasting and detrimental impact that lasts into adulthood.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/developmental-trauma\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/developmental-trauma\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/developmental-trauma\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/4523-developmental-trauma.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/4523-developmental-trauma.png","width":1920,"height":1200},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/developmental-trauma\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Mental Health","item":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/mental-health\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Trauma","item":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/mental-health\/trauma\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"What Is Developmental Trauma and How Do You Identify it?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/#website","url":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/","name":"BetterMe Blog","description":"Health &amp; 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