The fact that children raised from birth (and trauma can happen from conception due to changes communicated to the infant from the condition of the mother’s body if SHE is stressed) end up with changed brains, nervous and immune systems that have been prepared for survival in a hostile, toxic, traumatic, dangerously malevolent world does not mean that we grow up to be hurtful or malevolent people ourselves. It does not mean that we will grow up to perpetrate against or victimize others, not even our own children.
It simply means that because nature has the ability to enable us to make physical adjustments within our bodies (including internal relationships between our body, our self and the world) and including even the expression of our DNA on an ongoing basis long after the abuse has ended — that we had to develop differently AS we survived the abuse from birth.
It is not only because of the abuse that we are now different, but we are different BECAUSE we survived it. There was only these two alternatives: Either adapt and adjust our development so that we could BE in the world (as in “To be or not to be”) or we would have ceased to exist.
As Dr. Allan Schore repeats in his writings over and over again, an infant is driven to “go on being” no matter how traumatic the circumstances are that surround it during its development. The fact that we HAVE survived has turned out for many of us to be both our blessing and our curse.
We have been turned lose in a ‘benevolent’ world in which we are expected to function just like everyone else (in my section on ATTACHMENT I will describe in detail the approximate breakdown of percentages about how many of us actually grow up in a secure ‘good enough’ home and how many of us don’t — and what happens to our development in the storm).
Our changed body, brain, nervous system and immune system mean that we are literally geared differently than those who were told through their experiences that the world was a safe and secure place. My intention is to describe what our differences mean to us as we try to get through every day of our lives.
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Stop the Storm 
As a survivor from 20 years of severe childhood abuse, I became a handicapped or a slow learner. Have recall many times that my twin sister and I would get beatings with a stick and also being hit behind the scalp while being abused. There are very large deep scars on my scalp and it is not easy to hide these scars on the scalp. Very nervous that the barber who cut my hair would say anything about it.
As I age and into adulthood, I discovered that I almost lost my life two times from severe childhood abuse at the age of one month old and again at the age of 5. I had no idea of this incident until I enter the army and found and read the medical reports about my injury. I was in the hospital for 4 months because of severe childhood abuse. Something is very wrong at that time and had many medical problems because of the injuries from the abuse.
To make this short. History was made by myself in 1975 to 1999 from Donora, Pennsylvania to Portland, Oregon. When you see this web page it will educate you of what one child had endured in his life as well for the twin sister of her life. Many children are dead because of the horrible sufferings from surviving from some source of childhood abuse. My heart breaks knowing that children are dead at such a young age and my life is somewhat shorten with medical problems for over 60 years of my life. See this at:
http://www.efn.org/~scan
scan@efn.org
Stop Child Abuse NOW! since 1975 from Donora, Pennsylvania to Portland, Oregon by a Handicapped and survivor from 20 years of severe childhood abuse.
Paul M. McLaughlin
Stop Child Abuse NOW!
298 Hunington Ave.
Eugene, Oregon 97405
Paul M. McLaughlin
Liz SEVEN McLaughlin
Stop Child Abuse NOW!
298 Hunington Ave.
Eugene, Oregon 97405-4055
Paul—- I have seen you many times fighting child abuse quitly on the streets of Eugene, Or.Thank you and your lovely wife for doing more then talking about child abuse,you have both devoted your lifes to saveing the children thank you and all the careing people in your circle.I have linked your pages to mine with great pride.In my child abuse webpage I have a page called “Rosebuds Garden” its dedicated to children thats lifes have been takeing by the hands of abusers such as TessLynn O’Cull.Once again thank you from the bottom of my heart.Rosebud.
Rosebud
Creswell, Or USA – 10/17/98 03:16:20
One individual who makes his story know in many ways, from radio to TV is Paul McLaughlin, “The Abuse Man”. Whether it is standing on a street corner or talking with someone at a grocery store Paul is always on the job to make people aware of abuse and telling them what to do about it. He is an inspiration to us all. Read his story of abuse and see for yourself what abuse is. Then ask yourself this question, “How long are we going to sit around and let this happen?”
_____________________
Donora, Pennsylvania to Portland and Eugene, Oregon
1975 — 1999
Stop Child Abuse – Save Our Children since 1975 from Donora,
(Pittsburgh), Pennsylvania to Portland & Eugene, Oregon by a handicapped survivor, Paul M. McLaughlin. Paul grew up in Donora, Pennsylvania. http://www.efn.org/~scan scan@efn.org
October 13, 1948 —- 2007
Paul’s twin sister, Paula McLaughlin, passed away on August 27, 2007 in McKeesport, Pennsylvania at the age of 59. Having Kidney stones since the age of 20 in 1969.
Paul and Paula born on October 13, 1948 in Donora, Pennsylvania
Paul and Paula born on October 13, 1948 in Donora, Pennsylvania The triumph of one man over a childhood during which he and his twin sister were tormented and severely abused for eighteen years. Paul and Paula McLaughlin older brother and sister were NOT abused.
The twins father is NOT their father. The mother is also a handicapped in learning disability and have a mental mind of a 12 year old. The McLaughlin’s parents WERE NOT ABUSE WHEN THEY WERE CHILDREN. Paul and Paula’s older brother and sister were NOT ABUSE. (5 to 6 Years Older).
Hospital report from Charleroi, Pennsylvania
As a precious little boy came close to death twice at age of one month old and again at the age of 5, Paul M. McLaughlin survived, and has been a tireless crusader for the rights of children and against child abuse.
Graduated in Donora, Pennsylvania at the age of 21, SPECIAL EDUCATION
In 1970, Paul graduated from RINGGOLD High School at the age of 21, SPECIAL EDUCATION in Donora, Pennsylvania. Classified mentally slow.
Cheated on written test to enter the military (2 years) at Fort Dix, New Jersey to Fort Lewis, Washington. Paul moved to Portland, Oregon and began his One Man Advocate on Child Abuse. Elderly woman discovered Paul and taught Paul M. McLaughlin to read, spelling, typing machine.
Kind Of Abuse — All The Abuse Can’t Be Told
Scars on face and body from beatings. The only child in school with scars on face. He was placed on top of hot stove burner at age of three. Clothes removed and beaten with a belt/stick. Tied up and beaten. Forced fed feces, bars of soap, hot pepper. Enema treatments
you not want to know about. Beaten 2 to 4 times daily and for 18 years. The horror of abuse goes on. LARGE SCARS on Face, body, mind.
In Donora, Pennsylvania many dislike for Paul speaking out against child abuse. Paul’s parents were unhappy about Paul’s works.
Survivor and His Works
Paul is a survivor and not a victim. Because of his suffering he did not abused himself or the society with no drugs, no gangs, not disrespect his parnets, not kill school teachers/school friends and most of all, not abused children.
Since 1975, Paul speak out against child abuse on talk radios, open forums, symposium, school function, community service. A television commercial, advertising in newspaper on awareness of child abuse.
Newspaper and magazine articles. Display work and street campaign. All of Paul’s Fund Raising are NONPROFIT for crippled children, cancer, homeless, hunger, Christmas for children and child abuse.
The Year 2047
In the year 2047, the Paul M. McLaughlin story will continue to help educate people of what One Man done to educate people of what a abused child has endured. Time capsule can be seen on photo pages of this and
many events in Paul’s history life. TIME CAPSULE IN EUGENE, OREGON
http://www.efn.org/~scan/paulpics.html
Paul and his wife, Elizabeth in Eugene, Oregon
Today, he and his wife Liz now live in Eugene, Oregon where they continue to fight for the right of children everywhere to live from fear and abuse.
Illness
As of 1999, Paul taken ill with MS. Paul had to learn to walk, speaking, vision lost, and many other health problem with MS. No medication for this illness. There are 3 kinds of MS. Paul have epilepsy for over 20 years and some what control by Dilantin and other medication.
“The Child Abuse Man Story” Register-Guard Newspaper in
Eugene, Oregon from Donora, Pennsylvania to Portland, Oregon.
http://www.efn.org/~scan/abused00.htm
The Valley Independent Newspaper from Donora, Pennsylvania.
About Paul M. McLaughlin in Eugene, Oregon
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_503910.html
Photos of Paul and his Works at Crusade-pics.html
http://www.efn.org/~scan/liz.html
http://www.efn.org/~scan/paulpics.html
http://www.efn.org/~scan/paulfam.html
http://www.efn.org/~scan/crusade-pics.html
Main Web Page and History About Paul M. McLaughlin
http://www.efn.org/~scan
True Story and Testimony – Christian Testimony
http://www.efn.org/~scan/story5t.html
scan@efn.org
(541) 344-7244
Paul M. McLaughlin
Liz SEVEN McLaughlin
Stop Child Abuse NOW!
298 Hunington Ave.
Eugene, Oregon 97405-4055
Hello Paul, and thank you very much for your comment and the important information contained in it. I hope my blog’s readers carefully consider your story and your strength and compassion in your work to protect innocent children from the horror of abuse. I believe that telling the truth about child abuse is our responsibility as survivors, because we can use words and speak up for the little ones who can’t. May your heart be peaceful and your work be blessed! Linda
Thanks for an intriguing article. We need more like this; I know that I’ve never given much thought to how my abuse affected me, except on an emotional level.
From Cindy (1953): Mom never did ‘lose’ her part of the land- she sold it. They had been subdividing it before the divorce and came to a divison of assets that gave her the original piece (she insisted that she was going to keep it) and all the better subdivided parts. Several of them were sold and she had real estate contracts which would have provided her a nice income over time. Being impulsive and poor with money, she sold the REC’s at 50% of face value, to the Vanovers, I believe. This is the money that she used to finance her trip to St. Thomas and to Europe, pay for storage and long distance phone bills. She would have continued to get money even after Dad died but was chronically broke from living in hotels etc. and sold the final piece in the last years of her life.
Dad was left with some land, out of which he was to give the four of us each five acres. (John and Dave having already gotten theirs). He got sick about then and I honestly don’t k now the financial results or how/when the rest of his was sold. Steve might remember as I know he was left with closing up all Dad’s affairs.
Very interesting topic. I concur that both studies indicate the absence of new neuron growth. The Ipce allows for some</i) plasticity in existing neurons.
These studies certainly debunk the "get over it," adage; however, they are not at this time concepts that are well circulated in the general public.
I also agree that in cases of severe damage, it cannot be undone – we cannot change the way our brains developed; however, from personal experience, I can say that neural plasticity can enable us to modify some of our reactions.
True, true and true! Or is that true, truer and truest! Have a great weekend!!
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Unfortunately most severe mental illness and the life difficulties they correspond to — including actions of violence against others — appear to be directly tied to the brain changes that cannot actually be changed — though a layer of learning CAN be added to the brain through plasticity that can ameliorate some of the damage
Thank you for a wonderful post! I thought you might be interested these studies:
In a December 14, 2000 Press Release titled “McLean Researchers Document Brain Damage Linked to Child Abuse and Neglect,” researchers at McLean Hospital, a Harvard Medical School affiliate, released their findings on the effect child abuse and neglect can have on brain structure and function.
According to Martin Teicher, MD, Ph.D, director of the Developmental Biopsychiatry Research Program at McLean, “A child’s interactions with the outside environment causes connections to form between brain cells. Then these connections are pruned during puberty and adulthood. So whatever a child experiences, for good or bad, helps determine how his brain is wired.”
He also reports that, “This is not something people can just get over and get on with their lives.”
In the McLean Study, Teicher also states: “We know that an animal exposed to stress and neglect early in life develops a brain that is wired to experience fear, anxiety and stress. We think the same is true of people.”
The entire study is available here:
http://mcleanhospital.org/PublicAffairs/20001214_child_abuse.htm
In another study, the Ipce, a forum for scholarly discussion about the understanding of mutual relationships between children and adults states in an article titled, “Environmental Influences on Brain Development” (http://www.ipce.info/library_3/files/glaser/glaser_2.htm):
The process of neural plasticity in response to learning and the acquisition of new memories continues throughout childhood and into adulthood. Although the processes of plasticity enable the brain’s structure and function to continue to be modulated in response to environmental input and the organism’s needs, there is evidence that plasticity in the adult brain is limited.
In other words, re-wiring the way our brains are constructed by our childhood experiences is a difficult task, but it can be done.
Thank you, Nancy. I was well on my way in my research when I discovered Teicher’s work, and it literally changed my life because I recognized that I have one of the evolutionarily altered brains he describes. I also very much appreciate the link you provide for direct access to his study.
I agree that some rewiring can occur in adulthood, but this does not include the growth of new neurons (except in the hippocampus related to memory and in the olfactory area). The plasticity that is available to us is limited (though there’s infinite possibility within this parameter) to axon and dendrite connections and reconnections. I believe this is what Teicher is referring to when he says, “The McLean team identifies four types of abnormalities caused by abuse and neglect. “These changes are permanent,” says Teicher. “This is not something people can just get over and get on with their lives.”
Teicher describes the two entirely different kinds of brains that develop in accordance with influences of early experiences — the benevolent brain and the malevolent brain. These are two different kinds of brains, and once formed they cannot be reconstituted to become what they were not designed to be in the first place. No amount of neural plasticity can change this fact, though plasticity can modify some of the chemical interactions within these brains after structural formation.
It is also seems to be true that epigenetic factors are called into play through exposure to early abuse during formative stages, and that the mechanisms that instruct our genetic code as it manifests within our bodies for our lifetime will most likely be affected. The areas of the brain as described, for example, in Teicher’s 2002 article, Developmental neurobiology of childhood stress and trauma (abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12136507), can experience permanent and irreversible damage that can happen to a child’s developing brain. For example, neither hemisphere develops correctly or optimally, the corpus callosum does not form correctly thus hampering the transfer of information between the hemispheres, the cortex atrophies well before the time it should have finished its full formation, etc.
I am concerned that the public’s assumptions that severe brain changes caused during early development can ALWAYS be reversed is both inaccurate and problematic in that it denies the full range of devastation that early abuse can result in. It is also terribly misleading and creates yet further harm to victim survivors who have these irreversible changes built into their brains, nervous systems and bodies. I therefore believe that any reference to neural plasticity has to be used very carefully in relation to infant brain developmental damage, and needs to include the actual physiological processes possible through these actions — which DO NOT include, as far as we know now, any new neuron growth except in two specific regions of the brain. (The growth of new neurons in the hippocampus allows us to process memories of ongoing new experiences, and the new olfactory center neurons allows us to process ongoing information about new smells we encounter throughout our lifetime.)
I think Dr. Bruce Perry covers the range of damage and its consequences in a very readable fashion in his book, “The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog” (http://www.amazon.com/Boy-Who-Raised-Psychiatrists-Notebook-What/dp/0465056539/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243642631&sr=1-1).
It is for these reasons that I do not accept this idea except as it is very carefully qualified: “In other words, re-wiring the way our brains are constructed by our childhood experiences is a difficult task, but it can be done.” No, in cases of severe damage, it CANNOT BE DONE! The damage is permanent and cannot be UNDONE. Never. Not ever. We might wish it could be, but it can’t. I know this now. I know this from the inside out. Wishful, magical thinking, denial, false hope, and an inability to accept that the most human right of being able to express a best self in a best body with a best brain are forever denied to people who endured and survived the kind of malevolent early experiences that had the power to change the way their brains developed — and did — for a lifetime.
Thank you for this excellent blog and for being part of the Blog Carnival Against Child Abuse.
You are so very welcome! Thank you for reading it and for offering my words to others who have a deep concern for the well-being of children!
Thanks for submitting this post to the BLOG CARNIVAL AGAINST CHILD ABUSE. I will be posting the May edition later today and using your post. It’s great and I hope you keep posting and keep joining us for the carnival. Thanks!