Oliver Twist Would Have Had Heart Problems
Can We Undo Some of the Harm Of Childhood Trauma?
The United States has been trying to prevent childhood trauma and treat its victims for decades. But new research has shown that the stakes are even higher than was previously believed. Trauma–particularly chronic exposure to abuse, neglect, and violence–experienced in childhood can affect the physical health of adults decades later, increasing the risk for illnesses ranging from heart disease to hepatitis as well as addictive behaviors like IV drug use. In front of a crowd at The Actors’ Gang, several experts on a panel sponsored by the California HealthCare Foundation …