Healing Childhood Trauma
We often don’t realize the impact our childhood experiences have on our adult lives. How we grow up are the pillars we build our personalities upon. It’s our foundational way of understanding the world around us, our relationships, feelings, thoughts, and responses.
As kids, we don’t have a clear understanding of what’s going on and how it may affect us growing up. In reality, we’re constantly exposed to the possibility of a traumatic event. As adults, we can gain an understanding of these traumatic events and assess how a therapist can help us work through it.
What is childhood trauma?
Childhood trauma occurs when children are exposed to distressing or emotionally/physically painful events. This not only happens when a child experiences the trauma themselves but also when they’re exposed to traumatic events.
Some common types of childhood traumas are:
Exposure to domestic violence
Bullying or cyberbullying
Maltreatment (abuse or neglect)
Separation from a parent or guardian
Death of a loved one
Stress caused by poverty
Sudden or serious medical conditions
Motor vehicle accidents
Natural disasters
These are just a few examples of traumas that can occur during childhood. These can result in distress or even develop into disorders like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
What are symptoms of childhood trauma?
Childhood trauma affects everyone differently. Regardless, there are general signs and symptoms that both children and adults may exhibit. These could be indicators of someone who experienced childhood trauma. A few symptoms of childhood trauma can manifest in the following:
Fatigue or sleep issues
Impulsivity
Isolation
Chronic health problems
Eating disorders
Chronic stress
Anxiety
Depression
Panic attacks
Difficulty concentrating
Lack of interest in social activities
How do I heal from childhood trauma?
Healing childhood trauma may seem like a huge feat; it’s not always easy, it is possible! Trauma therapy can help you identify triggers, create healthy coping mechanisms, and reduce the severity of your symptoms. There are different types of therapy modalities to help treat childhood trauma including the methods used at Calm Again Counseling
In trauma therapy, we help you understand the mechanisms of trauma and your individual triggers through a blend of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), exposure therapy, and mindfulness training.
Working with a trauma therapist can be life changing and help speed up healing from childhood trauma. If you live in Oakland, give us a call today. Your trauma doesn’t have to be your narrative and its symptoms do not have to be permanent.
