Childhood Stress and Chronic Illness
Have you ever wonder what caused your MS? I have. Countless times.

I’ve gone back over my youth and tried to map out all of the horrible processed foods I ate as a child. Was it the Mac & Cheese? The hotdogs and gluten buns I loved so much? Or maybe it was the drinking and partying I did once I entered my 20’s?

As you know, we can search for answers forever, because we still don’t know exactly what causes MS; however, we are coming closer to figuring out what causes chronic illnesses. It is one area that I have explored more recently; I was shocked to learn that our childhood emotions can lead to illness.

More specifically, the stress we experience as children can lead to the illnesses we experience as adults.

Research linking childhood stress to adult illness is not new. The first study, Relationship of Childhood Abuse and Household Dysfunction to Many of the Leading Causes of Death in Adults, began in 1996, and has since been peer-reviewed over 1500 times. And the studies are only getting more advanced.

In the article, “Childhood Trauma Leads to Lifelong Chronic Illness – So Why Isn’t the Medical Community Helping Patients?“, Donna Jackson Nakazawa writes:

” Two-thirds of Americans report experiencing adverse childhood experiences. These include obvious sexual and physical abuse, but also stressors that many consider to be normal — growing up with divorced parents, living with a depressed or alcoholic mom or dad, having a parent who belittled or humiliated you – or simply not feeling as if your family had your back. People who’d experienced four such categories of childhood adversity were twice as likely to be diagnosed with cancer and depression as adults.”

A study more specific to MS and childhood stress found no direct correlation between childhood stress and MS, although stress is a trigger that can cause flare-ups and should be monitored closely if it becomes an issue.

While today’s research does not support the idea that childhood stress is responsible for MS, it remains an idea worth exploring, especially if you’re someone who has experienced extreme stress in your early life. Only good can come from healing yourself inside, regardless of how long ago the pain was first felt.

To learn more about childhood stress and chronic illness, check out the helpful links below. Knowledge is YOUR power, and we encourage you to be empowered.

Can you relate? Please leave a comment below to share your story.

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