205 W 5th Ave Ellensburg, WA 98926-2887
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Kittitas (pronounced 'KITT-i-tass') County is located in central Washington State. It spans from the lush forested Cascade Mountains to the upper Yakima River Valley plains and the Columbia River.
(509) 962-7515 publichealth@co.kittitas.wa.us
Trauma can be both an emotional and/or physical response to a terrible event. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, traumatic events are marked by a sense of horror, helplessness, serious injury, or the threat of serious injury or death. According to the American Psychological Association, longer term reactions include unpredictable emotions, flashbacks, strained relationships, and even physical symptoms.
When children experience traumatic events, it is called Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are traumatic childhood events that can result in prolonged toxic stress. In children, this prolonged toxic stress can lead to damage of their developing body and brain. It can also affect their overall health, and cause long-term health problems including: chronic health problems, mental health illness and substance misuse in adulthood.
Trauma Informed Nutrition recognizes that ACEs plays a vital role in a person’s life, it recognizes symptoms of trauma, and promotes resiliency. Being informed in Trauma Informed Nutrition means that you have an understanding that unhealthy dietary habits, chronic disease, and poor health outcomes could be a result of adverse childhood experiences, and not necessarily individual choices. It recognizes that trauma can impact the way our mind and body react to food. A lack of food security and/or lack of access to nourishment can increase the risk of negative relationships with food. This in turn can lead to poor nutritional health.
Physically or emotionally harmful or life-threatening event that can have lasting adverse effects on an individual's health and well-being, including the individual's relationship with food and their risk of developing chronic disease.
Historical trauma results from multi-generational trauma experienced by specific cultural or racial/ethnic groups. It is related to major oppressive events such as slavery, the Holocaust, forced migration, and the violent colonization of indigenous people.
Systemic trauma refers to the contextual features of environments and institutions that give rise to trauma, maintain it, and impact post-traumatic responses.
Source: California Department of Health, California Department of Social Services Essentials for Childhood Initiative June 2020
Trauma, and any form of toxic stress while growing up, can be disruptive to biology and can create an unhealthy relationship with food. Trauma can affect the way you eat, causing adverse food-related experiences, including, but not limited to:
When trauma is present, a person can develop certain behaviors when it comes to food. These behaviors can include:
KCPHD has a Trauma Informed Nutrition presentation and will gladly share information with your organization. To request a presentation, email publichealth@co.kittitas.wa.us, or call (509) 962-7515.
