Childhood Trauma Survivors
As a therapist and a child of a PTSD survivor, I have heard people belittle other's experiences and tell childhood trauma survivors to "get over it." Childhood trauma is not something that one just simply "gets over."
Childhood trauma survivors often have trust issues because the people who were supposed to keep them safe, did not.
Childhood trauma survivors often do not know how to regulate their emotions because they were not taught.
Childhood trauma survivors may disassociate as a means to detach themselves from their body. This can happen due to stress, potential threat, or "just because."
Childhood trauma survivors often have a hard time staying focused on tasks because of the need to be hyper aware of surroundings or potential threats.
Childhood trauma survivors may have learning disabilities due to not having a safe place at home. When a child does not feel safe, they cannot learn.
Childhood trauma survivors may people please as a form of gaining love and belonging. People pleasing can take the form of consistently buying for others, trying to fit in, changing their opinions to fit in with the other people, or even changing their appearance. This can cause distrust with other people and even confusion for childhood trauma survivor. The survivor may lose themselves and not truly know what they like or dislike anymore.
Childhood trauma survivors often struggle with flashbacks, nightmares, finding joy and fulfillment, sleeping, sensory issues, eating disorders, conflict, etc.
If your reading this and this sounds like you, there is help. It's scary taking that first step. You may not have had the choice of the childhood trauma you endured, but you have a choice now to get help and heal. If you start your healing journey now, you may not have to feel like 5 years down the road.
