Effective Coping Strategies for Dealing with Childhood Trauma
The world as it plays out is not a bed of roses. Sometimes, people behave in unpredictable manners and we are tempted to judge them so fast but we fail to realize that they may be acting as a result of their childhood experiences.
According to the National Institute of mental health, childhood trauma can be defined as the experience of an event by a child that is emotionally painful or distressful which often results in lasting mental and physical effects. For a child, learning how to understand, process and cope with tragedies is a natural part of development but sometimes, children get stuck and may have an overwhelming sense of fear and loss-making them feel that they have no safety or control over their lives. This is because children don’t have the nature of a rational brain that adult has and their coping skills are limited.
Childhood trauma could be as a result of physical abuse. Most parents hurt their children. It could be verbal abuse, spanking or the infliction of injuries on the child. This has a way of affecting the emotions and mental health of the victims. Also, childhood trauma could be as a result of sexual abuse such as rape, molestation, psychological abuse or neglect. When children are exposed to domestic violence or maybe their parents had to be separated, or they lost someone so dear to them, they become emotionally shattered and drained. They find it difficult to manage these emotions. This is why often times, the victims begin to withdraw and isolate themselves from others. They feel insecure because their trust has been broken and find it difficult to pull out of their shell. Some persons begin to shut out the pain by becoming easily angered, rebellious and irritational. When these memories are taken into adulthood, it becomes difficult for them to relate with normal day to day life situations. This passivity drives others crazy but keeps the victims from discovering their life. Their anxiety keeps them living in the future because they are scared of the past and their negativity overshadows the positive perspective of life. This can affect the relationship of the victims, career, and the society at large. Research has shown that this is not the right way to cope with trauma. Rather, it is best to first identify with the memories no matter how hurtful it is.
Running away from it is more harmful than it seems. Open yourself to grieve if possible. There is no need to bottle up the emotions. Cry it out. That way, the brain is able to let go easily. Alcohol and drugs are not the best means of overcoming trauma, rather avoid them and seek support or closure from those around you. Also, visit a therapist to seek professional help. It is normal to be scared of therapy, but it is the best solution to overcome trauma. Confide in the therapist and pour out all the hurtful memories and as you begin to talk to someone about it, you will feel much better.
