Toxic stress results from intense adverse experiences that may be sustained
over a long period of time—weeks, months or even years. An example
of toxic stress is child maltreatment, which includes abuse and neglect.
Children are unable to effectively manage this type of stress by themselves.
As a result, the stress response system gets activated for a prolonged
amount of time. This can lead to permanent changes in the development
of the brain. The negative effects of toxic stress can be lessened with the
support of caring adults. Appropriate support and intervention can help
in returning the stress response system back to its normal baseline.