The effects of childhood traumas can linger into adulthood and prevent you from achieving the quality of life you deserve. Fortunately, it is possible to overcome the effects of trauma, even years after the event occurred. Seeking help from a trauma therapy program can relieve the effects of trauma and give you control of your life.
Contact the caring mental health professionals at Illumination Mental Health by calling 747.285.7504 to get started with childhood trauma counseling today.
Prevalence of Childhood Traumas
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, two out of every three children report experiencing a traumatic event by the age of 16. Traumatic events could include:
- Witnessing violence
- Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse
- Neglect by parents or others in charge
- Loss of a loved one
- Military stressors, such as a parent leaving on deployment
- Life-threatening illness
Experiencing one or more of these events could lead to immediate traumatic stress, such as being unable to regulate emotions or having constant fear and anxiety. If these stressors aren’t appropriately processed, they could develop into post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that lasts for years.
How Childhood Traumas Affect Adult Mental Health
Early childhood experiences can shape all aspects of adulthood. Trauma can lead to an insecure attachment style, for instance, making it difficult for adults to form lasting and meaningful relationships with others.
There are four main attachment styles:
- Secure attachment
- Avoidant attachment
- Anxious attachment
- Disorganized attachment
People with a secure attachment style are comfortable with themselves and generally have healthy relationships.
Those with an avoidant attachment style will often push themselves away from others, feeling as though they’re better off on their own, which interferes with their ability to make meaningful relationships.
People with an anxious attachment style fear the loss of relationships, and so they will act out in extreme ways to try and solidify their relationships. These actions may end up pushing people away.
The last attachment style, disorganized attachment, is relatively rare but shares the qualities of both avoidant and anxious attachment styles. Childhood traumas can lead a person to develop a form of insecure attachment in adulthood, causing undue stress and leading them to lack healthy social support networks.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
If the childhood traumas were severe enough, some people might develop post-traumatic stress disorder that persists into adulthood.
This disorder is characterized by people feeling as if they’re constantly on high alert, having intense emotional reactions to situations, and having intrusive thoughts and nightmares about the traumatic event.
Entering a childhood trauma counseling program can help people to overcome the effects of PTSD that developed in their childhood and regain control over their lives.
Childhood Trauma Therapy
Childhood trauma therapy incorporates several evidence-based therapies that can help people overcome the effects of trauma. These include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Group therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Trauma therapy
- Grief counseling
All of these therapies are trauma-informed. Your therapist will work diligently to make the experience as comfortable and safe as possible without triggering your trauma unnecessarily.
Everyone can recover from trauma—you just need to take the first step toward recovery by contacting a mental health treatment center and beginning your journey to wellness.
Start Childhood Trauma Counseling at Illumination Mental Health
When you’re ready to start treating your childhood traumas, contact the compassionate mental health providers at Illumination Mental Health by calling 747.285.7504.
Our experienced clinical team will work with you to identify the root cause of your troubles, then help you to work through them with compassion and evidence-based practices.
You don’t need to continue suffering from the effects of childhood traumas. Recovery is possible at Illumination Mental Health.
