Many people assume that once childhood ends, so do childhood problems.
But that’s not always true, especially when it comes to trauma.
If you’ve experienced emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, or neglect, you might still be feeling its effects, even decades later.
In this post, we’ll explain how childhood trauma impacts adulthood, and how you can start finding peace and healing.
Related: Understanding trauma – the invisible wound
What does childhood or early-life trauma actually mean?
When we say childhood trauma or early-life trauma, we mean deeply upsetting events experienced before the age of 18.
Maybe you grew up witnessing domestic violence, dealing with neglect, or you had parents struggling with substance abuse. Or perhaps you’re a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, physical abuse, or emotional abuse.
Other traumatic events could include experiences like bullying, homelessness, severe accidents or injuries, or losing someone you love suddenly.
These difficult experiences are known as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and they can shape your adult life in ways you might not have noticed before.
WTCSB offers free ACES training for our community members. Register here.
Are you carrying unresolved childhood trauma?
Many of us don’t immediately link today’s struggles with past trauma. Here are a few signs you might be affected by early-life trauma:
- You frequently feel anxious or panicked, even when nothing particularly stressful seems to be happening.
- You struggle to trust others enough to build and maintain close relationships feels challenging.
- Your emotions are unpredictable – you might find yourself suddenly overwhelmed by feelings you can’t easily explain.
- You regularly experience physical symptoms like headaches, stomach issues, or general aches and pains without clear medical reasons.
- You find yourself turning to unhealthy habits or substances to cope with difficult feelings or memories, even though you’d rather not rely on these methods.
Now let’s take a closer look at some of these conditions.
Ways childhood trauma can impact your well-being in adulthood
Whether we realize it or not, childhood trauma can affect so many areas of our adult lives. Here are a few important ways it can show up:
Mental health struggles
Trauma experienced early in life can lead to mental disorders like anxiety, major depression, borderline personality disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Physical health issues
According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, ongoing trauma-related stress increases your risk for chronic pain, autoimmune issues, and even heart disease. This isn’t your imagination. Your body genuinely stores stress from your past experiences, causing physical symptoms.
Read our other article, “Understanding the Link Between Mental Health and Chronic Disease” to learn more.
Relationship challenges
If you’ve experienced childhood trauma – particularly childhood abuse – it can be difficult to trust others, making it difficult to form close relationships. You might unintentionally push people away or struggle to let them in. This is a natural protective mechanism developed from past pain, but it can also isolate you.
Difficulty managing emotions
Do you often feel emotionally overwhelmed? The American Psychological Association explains how childhood trauma can rewire your brain, impacting how you handle stress and emotions. You might find everyday challenges more exhausting, leading to mood swings or intense emotional reactions that you find hard to control.
Challenges with self-worth & identity
Early trauma can deeply impact your sense of self-worth and identity. Survivors often struggle with feelings of shame, guilt, or inadequacy, affecting their confidence and overall sense of self-worth.
Risk of substance abuse
Using substances to cope with painful emotions is common among trauma survivors. While this can temporarily numb emotional pain, it often creates more challenges over time, complicating your path to healing.
Personality disorders
Research from the Mayo Clinic reveals that repeated traumatic experiences early on in life can increase the risk of developing personality disorders like borderline personality disorder. These disorders often involve intense emotional experiences and difficulty trusting others.
Complex trauma & PTSD
Complex trauma stems from ongoing traumatic experiences, like sustained emotional or physical abuse during childhood. According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, this can lead to persistent symptoms of PTSD, including intrusive memories, hypervigilance, and constant emotional distress.
Sleep & energy levels
Early-life trauma can significantly disrupt your sleep patterns, leading to chronic insomnia, frequent nightmares, or restless sleep. The resulting fatigue often impacts your daily energy levels, making regular tasks seem like “too much” to handle.
Cognitive & memory issues
Experiencing trauma at a young age can also affect cognitive functions, including attention, memory, and decision-making abilities. Survivors of childhood trauma may notice difficulties with concentration, increased forgetfulness, or trouble organizing and managing daily tasks.
Supportive strategies to process & heal from early-life trauma
Healing isn’t easy, but it’s absolutely possible. Here are a few gentle, practical ways you can start:
Find someone to talk to
Talking to a professional counselor who has special expertise in early-life trauma can give you a safe space to explore your experiences. A therapist can help you understand the impact trauma has had on your life, and offer strategies to help you cope with the effects.
Practice self-compassion
Actively challenge negative self-talk by using compassionate self-affirmations and acknowledging your strengths and progress. Understand that your healing journey will have ups and downs, and that’s okay.
Reconnect with your body
Trauma often creates a disconnect from your physical sensations. Try activities specifically focused on reconnecting, like trauma-informed yoga, breathwork, or guided somatic exercises. Rebuilding this connection helps release stored trauma from your body and keep you grounded in the present.
Engage in mindfulness techniques
Bringing mindfulness into your life doesn’t have to be complicated. Consider writing down your thoughts regularly, using creative outlets like music or art to express emotions safely, exploring breathing exercises to manage stress, or going for mindful walks in nature to ground yourself.
Try trauma-specific therapy
Consider therapies specifically designed for trauma, like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Somatic Experiencing, or trauma-informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Therapy modalities like these address the trauma at a deeper neurological and emotional level, promoting lasting change.
Support is closer than you think
No matter how heavy your past feels, it doesn’t have to define your future. We offer trauma-informed counseling, personalized therapy plans, and compassionate crisis support whenever you need it – 24/7.
If you live in Suffolk, Franklin, Southampton County, or Isle of Wight County in Virginia, schedule an appointment or call our 24-hour emergency line at (757) 925-2484 for immediate mental health support.