MINDSCHANGE.COM

Providing tools and ways of looking at the world to help with the range of symptoms and behaviours resulting from childhood trauma... Toxic stress is a response which can occur when a person experiences prolonged, strong and frequent adversity. Children are particularly vulnerable to the repeated activation of the stress response as it is a crucial period of brain development. Repeated activation of the stress response due to physical and emotional abuse, caregiver mental illness or substance abuse, exposure to violence or poverty for example risks stress related diseases.