Wednesday, March 17, 2010

From the Karma Files: Is Your Child a Royal Pain?

BBC News reports a longitudinal study that indicates that what goes around, comes around.

Children with behavioural problems are twice as likely to suffer chronic pain as adults than others, say researchers.

Scientists at Aberdeen University, who followed the lives of more than 19,000 children, think faulty hormone signals in the brain may play a key role.

Bad early life experiences may harm this brain system, causing both behavioural problems in childhood and chronic widespread pain in adulthood.

The findings, spanning 45 years, are published in the journal Rheumatology....

The article goes on to say, "Other adult problems associated with childhood behavioural problems include long-term psychiatric problems such as depression, anxiety and substance abuse."

2 comments:

  1. The endless argument; nurture vs. nature. It's always a combo package. Traumatic life events, regardless of the cause AND what God has placed in your DNA (via your parents) can lead to mental wellness or a life of pain. With all the tools we have at our disposal; the Spirit of God, self-help and education; peer support; and medical intervention...all can play a role in taking a child raised in despair to an adulthood of hope.

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  2. ManicFox, you are preaching to the choir.:-) It may sound trite to say that "what does not kill me makes me stronger," but I see a lot of truth in that statement. The trials of life could be an opportunity to learn patience, resilience, and resourcefulness - if you so choose. But I am sensitive to the cries of pain of those who are under this crushing burden, and for them holding out enough hope to hang in there a little longer may be the best that we can do.

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