All about Childhood Traumas and Inner Child Healing
Looking at an in-depth look at Childhood Trauma: What it is, how it shows up in childhood, and more...
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What is Childhood Trauma?
Childhood trauma is an emotional injury that can occur when a child is subjected to a traumatic event. These events might be physical, like the death of a parent, or a tragic accident; or they might be sexual, such as abuse by a family member. The effects of childhood trauma are often long-lasting and can lead to mental health issues in adulthood. It's important for survivors of childhood trauma to get help so that they can heal and move on with their lives.
Childhood trauma is a serious mental health condition that affects children and adults. It can be caused by things like abuse, neglect, or witnessing violence. It is important to understand what causes childhood trauma in order to better heal from the experience.
Childhood trauma affects mental health in many ways: it can lead to depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance abuse problems. Without proper treatment for these conditions, childhood trauma can affect a person's ability to maintain healthy relationships and hold down a job. These effects are seen in adults who experienced traumatic events as children but also in those who were born into traumatic situations such as war zones or refugee camps and are experiencing these traumas for the first time as adults.
How does Trauma affect the body?
Trauma can trigger the stress response, called the fight or flight response. The body reacts in a similar way as if it were in a dangerous situation. It floods with adrenaline and releases cortisol, which causes the heart to race and breathing to quicken, among other things. What are the effects of trauma on children? Trauma during childhood can lead to chronic anxiety, PTSD, depression, and dissociation. Children may be more likely than adults to experience PTSD because they don't yet have coping skills or defenses that may help them through traumatic events. They also often lack support systems like adults do.
When you experience trauma, your body goes into fight or flight mode. This means that all of your energy is diverted away from things like digestion and reproduction and towards things like muscle growth and blood clotting.
This means that if you're not careful, a little bit of trauma can cause some serious health problems!
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Trauma has been shown to have a direct effect on the physical body by causing chronic pain and illness. For example, people who have experienced abuse or other types of trauma often deal with migraines or back pain because their bodies are trying to protect them from what happened. It's important that we recognize when someone is in pain so that we can offer support instead of making it worse by saying things like, Get over it, or That doesn't hurt.
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When faced with overwhelming or prolonged stress, our bodies enter into a state of alarm or fight-or-flight. This is a natural physiological response designed to protect us from danger and ensure our survival. However, when we experience chronic or repeated trauma, this response becomes dysregulated and our bodies can no longer maintain equilibrium between the sympathetic (fight or flight) and parasympathetic (rest and digest) nervous systems.
We then end up experiencing physical symptoms such as:
· increased heart rate
· high blood pressure
· gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea or constipation
· muscle aches and pains
· sleep disturbances including insomnia or hypersomnia (excessive sleeping)
· anxiety disorders including PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), phobias, etc.
As well as emotional ones such as:
· mood swings (including depression, mania, etc.)
· feelings of emptiness or worthlessness
· difficulty maintaining intimate relationships due to trust issues or feeling like you're being smothered by others' needs
· feeling isolated or ostracized by others because they don't understand what you're going through or think you're being overly sensitive about something that shouldn't be a big deal in the first place!
"Children don't get traumatized because they are hurt. They get traumatized because they are alone with the hurt"-Dr. Gabor Mate
Symptoms of Trauma in a child
1. The child becomes unusually quiet or doesn't talk much at all.
2. They have trouble sleeping and nightmares that make them scream or cry.
3. They have trouble eating or have an eating disorder like anorexia or bulimia.
4. They are aggressive towards others or themselves (like cutting).
5. They seem afraid of things that used to be normal, like going to school or riding in cars.
6. They start having problems with their memory or attention span; they can't focus on things like they used to be able to do before the trauma happened.
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A child who has been traumatized will exhibit some of the following behaviors:
- regressive behavior such as thumb sucking or bedwetting
- sleep disturbances such as insomnia or nightmares
- excessive crying or clinginess
- aggression toward others or self-harm
- loss of interest in favorite activities or toys
- loss of appetite or overeating; weight changes
- anxiety around specific people or places
- difficulty expressing emotions (such as fear, anger, sadness) or communicating needs
All children experience some degree of these symptoms after a traumatic event; however, if your child displays several of these behaviors consistently over a period of weeks or months, then it may be time to seek professional help.
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-difficulty sleeping
-not wanting to be left alone or having separation anxiety
-acting out or being aggressive with others
-having trouble remembering things or having memory loss
-being easily startled or having trouble concentrating
-feeling numb or like they're walking through water
-having trouble making decisions or feeling like they have no control over their own life.
For children who have experienced trauma, these symptoms can show up in many ways depending on the person and their experience(s). Some examples include difficulty sleeping; not wanting to be left alone or having separation anxiety; acting out or being aggressive with others; having trouble remembering things or having memory loss; being easily startled or having trouble concentrating; feeling numb or like they're walking through water; having trouble making decisions or feeling like they have no control over their own life.
Trauma and the Adult
Childhood trauma can have a significant impact on an adult's mental and emotional well-being. Trauma can be defined as any event or experience that causes a person to feel overwhelmed or powerless. This can include, but is not limited to, physical, emotional, sexual, or verbal abuse, neglect, or witnessing violence or a traumatic event.
When a child experiences trauma, it can affect their developing brain and shape their understanding of the world around them. This can lead to long-term emotional and psychological effects that can carry into adulthood. Some of the most common effects of childhood trauma on adults include:
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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): PTSD is a condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. It can cause symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety.
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Depression and anxiety: Childhood trauma can lead to the development of depression and anxiety in adulthood. These conditions can cause feelings of hopelessness, sadness, and fear, and can make it difficult for an adult to function in daily life.
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Difficulty with trust and relationships: Trauma can make it difficult for an adult to trust others, leading to difficulties in forming and maintaining healthy relationships.
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Substance abuse: Some adults who have experienced childhood trauma may turn to substance abuse as a way to cope with their emotions.
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Physical health problems: Childhood trauma can also have an impact on an adult's physical health, leading to conditions such as chronic pain, heart disease, and obesity.
It's important to note that not all adults who have experienced childhood trauma will develop these issues, and the effects of childhood trauma can vary from person to person. However, it's essential to understand that childhood trauma can have long-lasting effects on an adult's mental and emotional well-being, and that seeking help and support is essential in order to overcome these effects.
How to Heal our childhood trauma
4 Ways on how to start your healing journey
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Seek professional therapy
A trained therapist, particularly one experienced in trauma therapy, and inner child healing can provide essential support and guidance. Modalities such as EMDR, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and somatic experiencing can be effective in addressing childhood trauma.
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Build a support network
Surround yourself with supportive friends and family members who can provide emotional support. Group therapy or support groups for trauma survivors can also be valuable, as they create a sense of belonging and understanding. Find a local support group near you
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Self-awareness and self-compassion
Developing self-awareness about the impact of childhood trauma and practicing self-compassion can be empowering. Acknowledging your feelings and experiences without judgment is a crucial step in healing. Check out our array of worksheets to guide you on your inner child healing journey.
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Mind-Body practices
Engaging in mindfulness, yoga, meditation, breathwork or other relaxation techniques can help regulate your nervous system, reduce stress, release pent-up emotions, and promote healing. These practices can also reconnect you with your emotional body, which is often affected by childhood trauma.