Symptoms of Childhood Trauma in Adults

Physical or psychological trauma can strike at any time in a person’s life. When someone suffers a trauma in childhood, though, the effects can last throughout their life. Even worse, many people don’t seek out treatment for their traumas and end up engaging in self-destructive behaviors. Spotting the symptoms of childhood trauma in adults can make it easier to get someone the right kind of help.

Trust Issues and Symptoms of Childhood Trauma in Adults

One of the most common symptoms of childhood trauma in adults is trouble in forming trusting relationships. This is particularly true among adults who suffered some kind of abuse from a family member or other authority figure as a child. A child learns not to trust adults and often extends that lack of trust to everyone.

Anxiety

Anxiety is another one of the most common symptoms of childhood trauma in adults. In some ways, not trusting people means living in a constant state of fear. It might show up as a fear of betrayal or a fear of some kind of physical injury. That fear activates the stress cycle, which can cause several symptoms including headaches, heart palpitations, and nausea.

Depression

Trauma often creates a sense of powerlessness in a child. They think they should have done something to stop the trauma, even if there was no realistic action they could take. The sense of powerlessness can follow them around and trigger depression for decades after the actual event.

Addiction

One of the most destructive symptoms of childhood trauma in adults is an addiction. The addiction can stem from self-medication for anxiety or depression. It can also serve as a way to numb out the horror of reliving the trauma in nightmares or through post-traumatic flashbacks.

Treatment

In the case of childhood trauma with addiction, you can expect two distinct focuses of treatment. Treatment for the addiction will follow the standard path and include multiple therapies, such as:

Treatment for the trauma will typically include individual counseling. This counseling can help you put the trauma into perspective and give you coping skills. You may also undergo Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. EMDR helps you come to terms with the trauma. It also lets you revisit the memories without triggering fresh anxiety and trauma.

Symptoms of Childhood Trauma in Adults at Acqua Recovery Center

Acqua Recovery Center offers a wide range of mental health and addiction therapy services. Moreover, Acqua makes its home in Midland, Utah. Don’t let a past trauma keep you locked into addiction. With help from a good trauma therapy program and rehab program, you can reduce the daily impact of your traumas and start recovery from addiction. Contact Acqua Recovery at *DM_DirectNumber format=period* and see how we can help you.


Symptoms of Childhood Trauma in Adults

Dr. Daniel Pickrell

Dr. Daniel Pickrell
Medical Reviewer

Dr. Pickrell is a board-certified psychiatrist with interests in addiction and psychiatry. He strives to identify the underlying cause of substance use. His understanding of addiction as the overlapping symptoms of biopsychosocial development is the foundation to his care model. He is committed to helping both patients and families understand that addiction is a treatable medical illness. He has been involved in the treatment of addiction for the last 17 years and completed his residency training at the University of Utah.

Physical or psychological trauma can strike at any time in a person’s life. When someone suffers a trauma in childhood, though, the effects can last throughout their life. Even worse, many people don’t seek out treatment for their traumas and end up engaging in self-destructive behaviors. Spotting the symptoms of childhood trauma in adults can make it easier to get someone the right kind of help.

Trust Issues and Symptoms of Childhood Trauma in Adults

One of the most common symptoms of childhood trauma in adults is trouble in forming trusting relationships. This is particularly true among adults who suffered some kind of abuse from a family member or other authority figure as a child. A child learns not to trust adults and often extends that lack of trust to everyone.

Anxiety

Anxiety is another one of the most common symptoms of childhood trauma in adults. In some ways, not trusting people means living in a constant state of fear. It might show up as a fear of betrayal or a fear of some kind of physical injury. That fear activates the stress cycle, which can cause several symptoms including headaches, heart palpitations, and nausea.

Depression

Trauma often creates a sense of powerlessness in a child. They think they should have done something to stop the trauma, even if there was no realistic action they could take. The sense of powerlessness can follow them around and trigger depression for decades after the actual event.

Addiction

One of the most destructive symptoms of childhood trauma in adults is an addiction. The addiction can stem from self-medication for anxiety or depression. It can also serve as a way to numb out the horror of reliving the trauma in nightmares or through post-traumatic flashbacks.

Treatment

In the case of childhood trauma with addiction, you can expect two distinct focuses of treatment. Treatment for the addiction will follow the standard path and include multiple therapies, such as:

Treatment for the trauma will typically include individual counseling. This counseling can help you put the trauma into perspective and give you coping skills. You may also undergo Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. EMDR helps you come to terms with the trauma. It also lets you revisit the memories without triggering fresh anxiety and trauma.

Symptoms of Childhood Trauma in Adults at Acqua Recovery Center

Acqua Recovery Center offers a wide range of mental health and addiction therapy services. Moreover, Acqua makes its home in Midland, Utah. Don’t let a past trauma keep you locked into addiction. With help from a good trauma therapy program and rehab program, you can reduce the daily impact of your traumas and start recovery from addiction. Contact Acqua Recovery at *DM_DirectNumber format=period* and see how we can help you.


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