What does childhood trauma look like as an adult?

Childhood trauma refers to a deeply distressing and adverse event that a child goes through during its developmental years. Childhood trauma can be a one-time event such as the death of a loved one or an ongoing experience such as emotional or physical abuse, witnessing domestic violence or suffering from emotional neglect. 

These traumatic events make the child feel unsafe, endangered and vulnerable, leading to a deep emotional and psychological impact that can have a long-term, unconscious impact, even in adulthood. In this article, we’ll look at how childhood trauma impacts people in adulthood

• Low Self-Esteem

Many people who experience some form of trauma in childhood may grow up as adults with self-esteem issues. This is because when someone grows up in an environment where their basic needs of love and care are unmet, they may think they are undeserving of love. This may also lead them to have a lot of negative thoughts about themselves, further contributing to low self-esteem. They may also constantly doubt themselves, leading to a negative impact on their personal and professional lives

• Difficulties With Managing Emotions

Childhood trauma can make it difficult for people to manage their emotions as adults, leading to emotional dysregulation. This is because childhood trauma can alter brain development in various ways, particularly causing heightened activity in the amygdala, a part of the brain responsible for processing emotions. Thus, adults with childhood trauma may experience intense fear, mood swings or outbursts that are typically inappropriate to the situation.

• Impact on Physical Health

Multiple research studies have shown that childhood trauma is linked with an increased risk for diseases and physical health issues in adults. This is because trauma is stored in the body even if it is repressed by the conscious mind. This leads to a weakened immune system. Putting people at risk for heart diseases, autoimmune diseases and even cancer.

• Mental Health Conditions

Childhood trauma puts people significantly at risk of developing mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and even problems with substance abuse. 

• Difficulty Forming Healthy Relationships

When a child grows up in an emotionally stable and healthy environment, they are likely to grow up into trusting adults who find it easy to connect with others. However, experiencing childhood trauma in the form of abuse or the unexpected loss of a loved one can leave a child with feelings of abandonment. This may make it difficult for them to form healthy relationships even as adults, as they may struggle to trust people around them

• Avoiding Certain People Or Situations

Survivors of trauma may avoid certain people or situations that remind them of a past traumatic experience. This can manifest in avoiding conflict, specific places, or even certain types of relationships. While avoidance may make them feel better for some time, avoidance usually limits personal growth and opportunities in the long run.

How To Heal From Childhood Trauma?

While it may seem uneasy and overwhelming, there are various ways in which one can heal from childhood trauma. They are:

• Acknowledge how childhood trauma has impacted your life and develop awareness of how it is impacting you as an adult. Journaling is an effective way to develop self-awareness
• Prioritize self-care and establish a routine that incorporates time for self-care activities such as developing healthy hobbies, physical exercise, good sleep and eating habits. 
• Psychotherapy, particularly trauma-focused therapy, can be incredibly helpful in addressing the lingering effects of childhood trauma.

Conclusion:

The scars of childhood trauma can affect us well into adulthood, shaping how we look at ourselves, and how we relate with others around us. It can also have a deep impact on the immune system and body, leading to various physical issues. While the effects of trauma may seem overwhelming, it is important to remember that healing is possible through awareness, self-care and psychotherapy. If you are experiencing the effects of childhood trauma, consider reaching out for help to a trained mental health professional at the earliest.

References:

1. 14 Signs of Repressed Childhood Trauma in Adults. (n.d.). ChoosingTherapy.Com. Retrieved October 15, 2024, from https://www.choosingtherapy.com/signs-of-repressed-childhood-trauma-in-adults/
2. Center, I. L. (2021, August 16). What are the Signs of Repressed Childhood Trauma in Adults. Integrative Life Center. https://integrativelifecenter.com/mental-health-treatment/signs-of-repressed-childhood-trauma-in-adults/
3. Childhood Trauma in Adults: How to Recognize and Heal From It. (n.d.). Verywell Mind. Retrieved October 15, 2024, from https://www.verywellmind.com/signs-of-childhood-trauma-in-adults-5207979
4. Effects of childhood trauma: Symptoms and how to heal. (2023, October 5). https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/effects-of-childhood-trauma
5. Emotional Dysregulation and PTSD: The Role of Childhood Trauma. (2018, April 13). Psych Central. https://psychcentral.com/ptsd/affect-dysregulation-and-c-ptsd