Childhood Trauma Experiences and Their Effects on People During Adulthood
Childhood trauma is a common thing and it significantly contributes to social, mental and emotional problems in adulthood. Although the ideal form of childhood involves experiencing joy, optimism, wonder, innocence, and family protection, this definition is far from reality to some people. For instance, some children experience stressful situations, physical abuse, traumatic events, chronic Illnesses, and natural disasters. Consequently, the children cannot filter the information from these experiences and they end up blaming themselves. Indeed, childhood trauma cuts of a child’s stability and sense of self. Some of the effects of childhood trauma during adulthood include the feelings of shame, guilt, disconnections, heightened anxiety, anger, depression and trouble controlling emotions. As such, below, we have explained how childhood trauma affects people when they are adults.
Attraction to Unhealthy Relationships
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Adults who experienced trauma in their childhood are more likely to attract unhealthy people in their lives. For instance, they may attract people who are abusive people or emotionally unavailable since these individuals match their trauma identity. People who experienced trauma in their childhood are often aware of their past and know what they want; however, they still choose to connect with the people who will lead them towards the wrong path due to their heavy unconscious influence from the past.
Addiction to Drugs and Alcohol Abuse
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Individuals who experience trauma as kids are more likely to use drugs and alcohol to make the pain they felt numb. Additionally, when these individuals experience stressful situations, it triggers the same feelings from their childhood and they may run to drugs or alcohol to suppress the feelings.
Loss of Childhood Memories
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People who experience trauma as kids will most likely not remember large portions of their childhood while growing up. This childhood memory loss is called blocking, which is a self defense mechanism that happens when individuals cannot accept past realities as a way to avoid painful memories. For sure, the loss of childhood memories can contribute to self esteem problems in adulthood.
Avoidance of Relationships
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Furthermore, people who experience negative development experiences may have poor social skill and the fear to form close relationships in adulthood. Consequently, they tend to avoid close relationships and prefer isolation. For sure, the lack of social interactions can destroy their development later in life and make them feel unworthy.
Chronic Illness
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Additionally, trauma memories from childhood can burrow deep down into the body thus contributing to chronic stress. Moreover, such memories increase cortisone in the body which may lead to obesity, diabetes, heart diseases and stroke.
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