Childhood Trauma Creates Seeds of Disease

Childhood adversity is a ‘cause of causes’ of adult illnesses, mental health problems

Most people suffer adversity in childhood that undermines their ability to maintain healthy thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Joaquin Corbalan P/Shutterstock

Every day, we are exposed to things such as pollution that can increase our risk of illness. Many people take on additional risks—due to tobacco smoke, fast food, or alcohol, for example.

But there’s a less-recognized exposure that is even more common than smoking and increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, chronic lung diseases, sexually transmitted infections, chronic pain, and mental illness, and reduces one’s life by as much as 20 years.