How Childhood Trauma Affects You in Adulthood?

Trigger Warning: Information presented in this article may be triggering to some people. This blog contains discussions about childhood trauma.

Trauma is an overwhelming event that overcomes our capacity to cope. Trauma affects us emotionally, mentally, physically, and in our relationships. Examples of trauma that can affect childhood are sexual or physical abuse, natural disaster, car crash, neglect, and violence in the home. Adults who experience trauma as children are more likely to suffer from physical, mental, emotional conditions or illnesses, like post-traumatic stress disorder.

What is Childhood Trauma?

Defined by The National Institute of Mental Health as “the experience of an event by a child that is emotionally painful or distressful, which often results in lasting mental and physical effects.”

Trauma can affect a child by experiencing or witnessing something traumatic. Whether it was abuse or witnessing something like a car crash, those events can have a lasting impact on a child's development. Between the ages of newborn to 6 years old is when a child’s brain grows and develops, and is more vulnerable to trauma. The common types of trauma are abuse (physical, emotional, and sexual), neglect (abandonment, physical/emotional needs are not met), and child’s household/ environment (mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence, or divorce).

Signs and Impact of Childhood Trauma 

Adults who experience childhood trauma are most likely to have panic disorders and affective disorders.

Also called mood disorders, affective disorders are mental illnesses such as depression and bipolar. These disorders affect the way you think and feel. The symptoms may range from mild to severe. The symptoms of depression include extreme sadness, feeling hopelessness, or thoughts of suicide. The episodes of depression can last for days, weeks, months, or even years. There are many forms of depression-like major depressive disorder, persistent depressive, and postpartum depression. 

Bipolar is a mood disorder that causes extreme mood swings. Bipolar disorder may have episodes of happiness followed by despair. Your mood shifts back and forth, it may happen once in a while or a few times in a short period of time.

Panic disorder also known as anxiety is an intense fear that can cause unexpected panic attacks. The symptoms of a panic attack may include a fast heartbeat, dizziness, chest pain, or shortness of breath. Panic attacks can happen without warning.

Symptoms of childhood trauma can also include flashbacks, emotional numbness, self-destructive and impulsive behavior, poor sleep (hard to go to sleep, stay asleep or wake up) wanting to sleep too much, nightmares, and physical symptoms like nausea and headaches, intense feelings of guilt, an altered sense of shame.

Healing from Childhood Trauma

As you may know, unresolved trauma can manifest itself as depression, anxiety, and many other ways. Recognizing those symptoms can be a sign of relief. Seeking help may be hard but it is also necessary. Healing from trauma is a long journey, it takes time. Here are three ways you can start to heal from childhood trauma.

Seek Therapy

Considering therapy is an important part of healing childhood trauma. Take your time to find a therapist that you are comfortable with. Whether it is group therapy, individual therapy, or both seek the right treatment for you. The treatment is according to your needs.

Write

Writing poetry, journaling, or short stories are ways that you can express yourself and your feelings. Writing is another form of therapy and includes health benefits. 

Exercise

Exercise has many benefits in healing trauma. It contributes to weight loss, boosts the immune system, increases good physical health, and has a positive impact on mental health. 

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