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Childhood trauma is different for everyone. It could be something as simple as being left out by your peers or something more sinister such as physical and sexual abuse. No matter what type of trauma you experienced, the impacts are lasting and can have serious implications on your life as an adult. If you’ve experienced childhood trauma, it might feel like it’s defined you forever. This isn’t necessarily true, however; there are ways to heal after experiencing a traumatic event. The key is identifying the negative effects so that you can take action and begin healing. We all experience some sort of trauma at some point in our lives. The sooner we address these issues and find ways to cope with them, the sooner we can move past them and into a happier future.
What is Childhood Trauma?
Childhood trauma is any event that has severe psychological effects on the developing brain. It can be both mental and physical abuse and neglect. There are many different types of childhood trauma. The most common ones include:
– Physical Abuse
– Neglect
– Emotional Abuse
– Sexual Abuse
– Extreme Parental Behavior
– Loss or Grief
– Domestic Violence
– Other Trauma
Symptoms of Childhood Trauma
Depending on the type of trauma you experienced, the symptoms will vary. The most common ones include:
– Being unable to trust your own judgment.
– Having obsessive thoughts and feelings.
– Feeling like you are always on edge.
– Experiencing sudden bouts of rage or anxiety.
– Having low self-worth.
– Experiencing a distrust in relationships.
– Replaying traumatic events in your head.
– Having nightmares or flashbacks.
– Experiencing changes in eating or sleeping patterns.
– Experiencing constant physical pain.
– Experiencing an inability to cope with stress.
– Having an extreme reaction to triggers.
– Experiencing a decreased sexual desire.
– Experiencing decreased libido.
– Experiencing a desire to self-harm or take your own life.
The Consequences of Childhood Trauma
Trauma can cause many different consequences. In extreme cases, it can even lead to death. Trauma and the effects of childhood trauma can cause serious problems in a person’s life. It can cause issues in your relationships, health, and ability to cope with day-to-day stressors. Here are some of the consequences of childhood trauma:
– Relationship Issues
– Poor Health
– Financial Difficulties
– Substance Abuse
– Anxiety
– Depression
– Suicidal Thoughts
– Low Self-Worth
– Self-Harm
– Sexual Issues
– Lack of Motivation
– Extreme Fear
– Lack of Trust of Others
– Nightmares or Flashbacks
– Physical Pain
– Feeling of Hopelessness
Ways to Heal From Childhood Trauma
There are plenty of ways to heal from childhood trauma. You just need to find what works for you. Take the time to explore different options and find what feels right for you. Usually a combination of these will help the most. Here are some of the ways you can heal:
– Processing Your Feelings
– Self-Care
– Connecting to Others
– Trauma-Informed Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
– Helping Others
– Medication Management
– Exercise
– Diet
– Sleep
– Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
– Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
– Psychotherapy
What You Can Do Right Now
The first step to healing from childhood trauma is acknowledging that you have it. This can be a difficult step because often people feel as though they are responsible for the trauma they experienced. This is not the case. No one is to blame for the trauma you experienced. Once you acknowledge that you have experienced trauma, you can begin to search for ways to cope with it. The sooner you start, the better. By acknowledging the trauma and opening yourself up to possible ways to cope with it, you can open up a whole new world of possibilities for yourself. You can begin to heal from the trauma, you can start to live a happier life, and you can let go of the shame and guilt you may be holding onto.
Conclusion
The sooner you acknowledge that you have experienced trauma and start looking for ways to cope with it, the sooner you can begin to heal from the trauma. There is no time limit on healing from childhood trauma. It is something that can take a lifetime to fully heal from. The important thing is to start now and don’t give up. There is hope, and you can get through this.
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Clear Mind Treatment is a 45-90 day program specialized in treatment resistant depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and PTSD using traditional psychotherapy and cutting edge technologies, like Ketamine, TMS, EMDR. We are a big fan of neuroplasticity and meditation and believe that when you can change your thought and feeling patterns, you can change your life. We take most PPO insurance, medicare, and AHCCES in Arizona. Give us a call anytime 310-571-5957 www.clearmindtreatment.com
