Many of us have experienced some type of emotional or physical trauma, as children and as adults. Trauma triggers the fight-or-flight response.
Emotional abuse triggers the same chemical response as physical abuse. The brain, especially a child’s brain, can’t assess the level of danger it’s dealing with.
Having a parent scream at you is going to evoke the same chemical response as having a parent knock you across the room. The brain interprets both scenarios as life threatening.
Read more on themighty.com