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Childhood Adversity

Meaning

Childhood Adversity refers to a spectrum of traumatic or stressful experiences occurring during the developmental period, encompassing events such as abuse, neglect, household dysfunction, or severe socioeconomic deprivation. From a hormonal health perspective, these experiences are not merely psychological events but potent biological stressors that can permanently alter the neuroendocrine stress response system. Early life stress can induce long-lasting epigenetic changes that influence gene expression, predisposing an individual to chronic health conditions later in life. Clinicians recognize that a history of adversity necessitates a nuanced approach to hormonal and metabolic wellness, considering the biological embedding of trauma.