Childhood Trauma
Trauma suffered back in our Childhood, shapes the adults we become. It's possible to live what appears to be a 'normal' life to those looking on. However, inside, we can cling to those traumas. They can impact our relationships, our jobs, our hobbies and generally impact on our day to day lives.
Childhood traumas can range from Abuse (sexual, physical, emotional) to big life changes we experience (parents divorcing, family dying, moving home) if left unchecked, these traumas can cause a huge impact on decisions we make.
Are you ready to unpick your past and build a better future?
What is Childhood Trauma?
Childhood Trauma can occur in the form of Sexual, Physical or Emotional harm. Whilst we are growing and have a level of dependency on those around us, if we do not have our needs met and our surroundings do not provide the safe space required for us to develop, it can cause emotional damage to not only our brains, but out emotions and self worth.
How can I tell if I have Childhood Trauma?
Our brains have a mechanism to bury our Childhood Trauma. This is a way of self preservation and survival. To cope with the trauma we experienced at a young age, when we were unable to understand it - we lock these memories into boxes and store them away in our minds.
Sometimes the lids fall off these boxes when we are in similar situations to those from our childhood. This is known as a 'Trigger' and can cause a flood of emotions, drawing on the earlier ones that haven't been processed.
Therapy will help you unpack these boxes and revisit the past trauma to deal with it in manageable pieces.
I'm scared to dig up my Childhood Trauma
It is completely normal to be afraid to revisit areas of our lives that we have spent years trying to forget. This is why our brains bury these feelings. However by doing this, we are also avoiding processing, vital emotions that we need to experience as part of growth.
Your therapist is professionally trained to help you process this pain and you will learn to talk about this, then to bring yourself back to the present. Remaining in the past would cause you immense pain and this is will not allow you to heal.
I'm embarrassed by my Childhood Trauma
Again, it is completely normal to be embarrassed of things we experienced as Children. Any trauma or abuse suffered, will usually have been perpetuated by blame and guilt placed on the sufferer by the abuser.
Your therapist is non-judgmental and will listen to what you have to say without placing the guilt or blame upon you. You will learn to remove this from yourself also.
What are some symptoms of Childhood Trauma?
​There are 9 main symptoms that a person has suffered Childhood Trauma, if you experience multiple ones from this list, there may be some underlying issues that you need to heal from:
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Emotional dysregulation - mood swings, emotional reactions and trouble managing stress
Flashbacks - traumatic events, recollecting past experiences.​
Avoidance - of people, places and situations that remind you of the trauma.
Hypervigilance - being wary of potential threats or danger.
Trust - issues with abandonment, betrayal or concerns of abuse.​
Low self-esteem / worth - shame, guilt, and inadequacy
Relationship problems - forming / maintaining healthy relationships, intimacy, communication, and trust.
Substance abuse / addiction - coping mechanisms to numb emotional pain.​
Physical health - chronic pain, autoimmune disorders and cardiovascular conditions.