Meg Appelgate

Not to mention, we know now that even in the absence of abuse for these children, the act of being institutionalized itself can be harmful. The kids who go into these facilities have every aspect of their lives monitored, contact with the outside world is cut off, and have a complete loss of free will.

The very fact that communication is limited to the outside world, that there's no due process, and that these children are extremely removed from their support systems will often breed abuse, even if it's not intended.

The very fact that communication is limited to the outside world, that there's no due process, and that these children are extremely removed from their support systems will often breed abuse, even if it's not intended.

The very fact that communication is limited to the outside world, that there's no due process, and that these children are extremely removed from their support systems will often breed abuse, even if it's not intended.

Yeah, exactly. And most people don't understand that kids in prison actually have more rights than kids in these programs. Ripping a teen away from their closest relationships, or should I say kidnapping, as that's often what is done, can cause major disruptions in their ability to function in important ways, both internally and externally.

Yeah, exactly. And most people don't understand that kids in prison actually have more rights than kids in these programs. Ripping a teen away from their closest relationships, or should I say kidnapping, as that's often what is done, can cause major disruptions in their ability to function in important ways, both internally and externally.

Yeah, exactly. And most people don't understand that kids in prison actually have more rights than kids in these programs. Ripping a teen away from their closest relationships, or should I say kidnapping, as that's often what is done, can cause major disruptions in their ability to function in important ways, both internally and externally.

Exactly. But instead of a plant, it's a teenager's mental and emotional well-being we're talking about. And trust me, it gets worse when that adversity or trauma hits during childhood, especially without a caring adult to help them through it.

Exactly. But instead of a plant, it's a teenager's mental and emotional well-being we're talking about. And trust me, it gets worse when that adversity or trauma hits during childhood, especially without a caring adult to help them through it.

Exactly. But instead of a plant, it's a teenager's mental and emotional well-being we're talking about. And trust me, it gets worse when that adversity or trauma hits during childhood, especially without a caring adult to help them through it.

Exactly. It's something called toxic stress. It's like regular stress's evil twin. It changes the way our brain is wired right down to the genetic level and basically remodels the brain in all the wrong ways. It goes after key areas in the brain like the amygdala, hippocampus, and the prefrontal cortex.

Exactly. It's something called toxic stress. It's like regular stress's evil twin. It changes the way our brain is wired right down to the genetic level and basically remodels the brain in all the wrong ways. It goes after key areas in the brain like the amygdala, hippocampus, and the prefrontal cortex.

Exactly. It's something called toxic stress. It's like regular stress's evil twin. It changes the way our brain is wired right down to the genetic level and basically remodels the brain in all the wrong ways. It goes after key areas in the brain like the amygdala, hippocampus, and the prefrontal cortex.

Those are the parts that handle things like stress response, emotional regulation, focus, decision-making, and memory. When toxic stress messes with those, it's like trying to run a computer on a corrupted hard drive. Nothing works the way it should.

Those are the parts that handle things like stress response, emotional regulation, focus, decision-making, and memory. When toxic stress messes with those, it's like trying to run a computer on a corrupted hard drive. Nothing works the way it should.

Those are the parts that handle things like stress response, emotional regulation, focus, decision-making, and memory. When toxic stress messes with those, it's like trying to run a computer on a corrupted hard drive. Nothing works the way it should.

Yeah, exactly. Our brains are like super sponges when we're young, soaking up everything around us. If that everything is chaos and stress, the brain rewires itself to survive in that kind of environment and not in a good way.

Yeah, exactly. Our brains are like super sponges when we're young, soaking up everything around us. If that everything is chaos and stress, the brain rewires itself to survive in that kind of environment and not in a good way.

Yeah, exactly. Our brains are like super sponges when we're young, soaking up everything around us. If that everything is chaos and stress, the brain rewires itself to survive in that kind of environment and not in a good way.

Yeah, you're not far off. When survivors of the industry finally get out of these programs, we're starting to see the full scope of damage. We're talking mental health issues like complex PTSD, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and personality disorders. But it doesn't stop there. Housing insecurity, lack of job training, poor educational outcomes— and even higher chances of suicide.