Is Healing From Childhood Trauma As An Adult Possible?
Childhood trauma can have a lasting impact on a person’s life, and the effects can be felt long into adulthood. Trauma can come in many forms, such as abuse, neglect, or experiencing a natural disaster. These experiences can have significant effects on a person’s emotional, physical, and mental health. However, healing from childhood trauma as an adult is possible with the right support, resources, and commitment.
What is childhood trauma?
Childhood trauma happens when someone below 18 years of age experiences a scary, violent, or dangerous situation. It can also result from unsafe and unstable living conditions, such as having an abusive parent or a caretaker who is addicted to drugs. A child may also experience trauma by seeing a
close friend, loved one, or classmate go through something violent or have a prolonged illness. Not all events may have a traumatic impact. Still, other events that might not typically be thought of as traumatic can disturb or upset a child and have lasting effects. Trauma is unique to every person.
What are the effects of childhood trauma?
If you experienced childhood trauma, you may:
struggle with adult relationships
have a heightened stress response
have difficulty regulating your emotions
struggle with mental illnesses, such as anxiety and depression
abuse drugs and/or alcohol
have physical issues such as insomnia or lowered immune function
How can you heal?
Acknowledge it
The first step in healing from childhood trauma is acknowledging that it happened and recognizing the effects it has had on your life. This can be a difficult process, as it may bring up painful memories and emotions. However, it is an important step in starting the healing process. Consider journaling about your past experiences and day-to-day emotions on this journey. Writing things down can help you understand what you went through and document important feelings along the way.
Take care of yourself
Self-care is an important part of healing from childhood trauma and taking care of your mental health. This can include exercise, meditation, journaling, or any other activity that helps you feel relaxed and at ease. Find things you love doing. Self-care can help you manage stress and anxiety and provide you with a sense of control over your life.
Build a supportive network
You need people around you who can give you strength on your healing journey. These can include friends, family, or support groups for survivors of trauma. Having a support system can provide you with a sense of belonging and help you feel less isolated. It can also provide you with people to talk to who understand what you are going through.
Therapy
Seeking help for your mental health is one of the most important steps. Talking to a therapist or counselor can help you process your feelings and provide you with the tools to cope with them. Consider seeing a trauma-focused therapist and choosing a specific approach to psychotherapy, such as:
Eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
Internal family systems therapy (IFS)
Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT)
Narrative exposure therapy (NET)
Each of these approaches is research-based and can be tailored to fit your situation. It’s important to remember that healing from childhood trauma is a process and may take time. Be patient with yourself and don’t expect to feel better overnight. It is normal to have setbacks and difficult days, but with the right support and resources, you can overcome them.
This doesn’t mean you’ll forget or erase the past. Instead, it means finding ways to live with the trauma in a way that allows you to move forward and live a fulfilling life.
To learn more about how trauma therapy can help you heal from your childhood trauma, please reach out to us.
