I recently took a class for work that challenged me in unexpected ways. Part of the learning experience included two assessments. The first went smoothly, but during the second, I encountered a couple of questions that stumped me. I turned to my resources, yet came up empty. At that moment, my mind went blank, and I felt myself begin to panic. Heart racing and mind fogged, I experienced the full weight of a panic attack.
…An individual may experience significant physiological reactivity such as rapid breathing or heart pounding, or may "shut down" entirely when presented with stressful situations. - What is Child Trauma?
When we overreact to a situation, we are triggered “set off” by pain. Old habits from our wounds take over.
Did you know?
Approximately one in four children experience child abuse or neglect in their lifetime. Of maltreated children, 18% are abused physically, 78% are neglected, and 9% are abused sexually. … Exposure to violence during childhood can have lifelong health consequences, including poor physical, emotional, and mental health. - National Library of Medicine
Children who frequently experience being struck or yelled at by an adult often become hesitant to speak up and may develop a fear of authority figures. In some cases, this can lead to a more extreme reaction, where they become defiant towards those in charge.
Your life feels fractured as if you were still broken.
Where do you start?
Living with post-traumatic stress syndrome and leftover trauma reminds me of wearing another person’s corrective glasses. You can’t see clearly. Often, when you need to see something, everything blurs. Your life feels fractured as if you were still broken. You dream of starting over fresh since fixing your life sometimes feels overwhelming.
A complexly traumatized child may view himself as powerless, “damaged,” and may perceive the world as a meaningless place in which planning and positive action is futile. They have trouble feeling hopeful. Having learned to operate in “survival mode,” the child lives from moment-to-moment without pausing to think about, plan for, or even dream about a future. - What is Child Trauma?
Just for you!
- When seeing through trauma eyes, I see my hurts.
- I talk about my pain as if it was inflicted upon me.
- Usually, I frequently mention a person or group who has harmed me.
- Difficulty letting go of the mental ties
You can heal.
“Why did I say that? I sounded so immature.”
If needed, take a moment to regroup. If you’ve been rude, ask for forgiveness and move forward without hesitation.
You are not bound forever to your past overreactions. You can heal. Bad events and abuse wound us. Our actions become tied to the pain, and we believe we don’t deserve better than we have now. Healing of the wound is how we escape.
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