It’s important to note that childhood trauma impacts each person differently. However, there are certain general signs and symptoms that both children and adults can exhibit.
Trauma therapy is a great way to overcome childhood trauma. Some common therapies include PE and CPT. EMDR is another option that works well in person and online.
Acknowledge the Trauma
Children are often considered exceptionally resilient and capable of recovering from almost any difficulty, but childhood trauma has a lasting impact on adulthood. This is especially true if the trauma is left unaddressed.
Acknowledgment of the trauma can help you understand why you may react the way you do and why your experiences affect your life in the ways they are. It can also allow you to release feelings you have avoided, thereby beginning the healing process.
It is important to remember that your reactions are a normal response to traumatic events. Recognizing the trauma and recognizing that it is not your fault can be very difficult, but it is crucial to overcoming childhood trauma as an adult. It is also important to seek support from others like family, friends, or a trauma therapist Westminster. Avoid isolation, as it only exacerbates your symptoms and prolongs recovery.
Develop a Plan of Action
People who are struggling with childhood trauma can often feel overwhelmed and helpless. The good news is that there are many ways to overcome childhood trauma and heal from a traumatic experience, even well into adulthood.
The first step is to acknowledge the traumatic event for what it is. Many trauma survivors spend years trying to minimize what happened or blaming themselves. The truth is that a traumatic event did occur, leaving lasting impacts on your life.
The next step is to develop a plan of action. Your mental health professional can help you identify treatment options, such as EMDR and NET (narrative exposure therapy), effective for adults with PTSD. The final step is to follow your treatment plan and seek support. Avoid isolation, as it can negatively affect your mental and physical health. Instead, reach out to loved ones and consider joining a support group for survivors of childhood trauma.
Take Care of Your Health
The impact of childhood trauma can be a significant barrier to living a happy and fulfilling life. However, minimizing the effects of these experiences and learning coping skills that allow you to function daily is possible.
Taking care of your health is a vital part of the healing process. You can get enough sleep, eat healthy foods, and exercise regularly. You can also practice mindfulness and focus on positive relationships and experiences to improve your well-being.
It is also important to seek support. While the instinct of many trauma survivors is to isolate themselves, this can worsen things. Instead, try to maintain your connections with others and consider joining a support group for childhood trauma survivors. You can also get help from a mental health counselor specializing in trauma treatment. Common therapy modalities include cognitive processing therapy, prolonged exposure, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing.
Seek Support
Whether it was the traumatic experience or the environment surrounding it, being in a traumatic situation can lead to PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Having a support system is essential for anyone dealing with trauma.
A therapist can help you identify your triggers, develop healthy coping strategies and decrease symptoms in a safe and supportive environment. Some common treatment modalities for childhood trauma include cognitive processing therapy, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).
If you are struggling with unresolved trauma from your past, don’t hesitate to seek the help you need. BetterHelp has a network of licensed therapists ready to assist you with your emotional well-being. Complete a short questionnaire to get matched with a therapist today. It’s fast, easy and starts at $60 a week. Start healing today.
