Mental Trauma Case Studies

Case of Cassie
Biological Components
Cassie is a 14-year-old, Hispanic, female, who is currently under the foster care system due to her recent behavior displaying suicidal ideation. Based on Cassie’s background information it’s quite clear that her disorganized and lack of attachment from her mother, has deeply impacted her perception of sense of self and how she perceives the world around her simply because there is so much neural growth and organization during sensitive periods, and how early interpersonal experiences are very influential on long term development and well-being (Cozolino,2006). The lack of brain stimulation and neglect from a young age has impacted her development resonating with the logic of how early experiences
Going back to her running away after physical punishment from her aunt, could also be interpreted as hyper-arousal, reflecting a stress induced dysregulation of the amygdala, resulting in exaggerated startled reflex and agitation (Cozolino,2010). This of course is maladaptive because she is left more vulnerable without the care of her legal guardian.
Cassie’s attachment issues are also exacerbated by the sexual trauma she experienced as a child. This coincides with the relational trauma brought on by her primary relationship with her mother which has exposed her to both neglect and abuse. As it stands to reason that the most devastating types of trauma are those that occur at the hand of caretakers (Cozolino,2010). Because of the importance of a context of safety and bonding in the early construction of the brain, childhood trauma compromises core neural network, (Cozolino,2010). With trauma being a constant theme in Cassie’s life, and her lack of positive adaptation has manifested through poor judgment, leaving her vulnerable to future trauma. Not having a healthy model to follow as child has also hinder her coping skills as she is unable to regulate her emotions and lacks the capacity to understand them at her young age. As she experiences these symptoms chronically,
Not having a secure base available has made Cassie susceptible to a disorganized pattern of attachment as she perceives rejection from her mother and in where she goes on to state how “she only loves her drugs”. Exposure to abuse in the past, and her current standing in the foster care system further reinforced this.
This separation has also produced chronic distress throughout Cassie’s young life. She is also deprived of what Bowlby defines attachment as being a “lasting psychological connectedness between human beings” (Bowly,1969). In theory her constant running away from home and her aunt, can be seen as attempts to live without love and support of others due to her loss in confidence in the relationship she’s had with her mother. It also explained as her version of fleeing to safety based on instinct. Avoidance is her attempt to defend against dangers by limiting contact with the world and withdrawing from others (Cozolino,2010). She simply doesn’t know how to properly attach to the caregivers in her