The Impact of Childhood Trauma in Adulthood

The impact of childhood trauma can last long into adulthood. Many trauma survivors are not aware that their childhood experiences qualify as abuse, causing them to minimize and invalidate these experiences. The Adverse Childhood Experiences questionnaire (ACE’s) is an assessment that measures the impact of disturbing, childhood experiences and contains questions pertaining to physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, emotional and physical neglect, domestic violence, and other traumatic experiences from childhood. Through increased awareness and understanding of childhood abuse, a person can begin to work towards healing.

How Childhood Trauma Shows Up in Adulthood

Below are common symptoms experienced by adults with a history of childhood trauma, abuse, and/or neglect:

• Feelings of panic, anxiety, dread, or worry.
• Feeling unworthy/low self-esteem.
• Intrusive memories or thoughts related to the abuse.
• Dissociating, disconnecting, or detaching from trauma memories.
• Gaps in childhood memories, difficulty recalling events.
• Feeling numb.
• Difficulty in relationships.
• Feeling depressed.
• Difficulty sleeping.
• Nightmares or flashbacks of the abuse.
• Easily startled, hypervigilant.
• Intense emotions or mood swings.
• Chronic, physical pain.
• Fearing abandonment.

How Trauma Therapy Helps

Trauma therapy can help you heal from childhood abuse. Through psychotherapy you can:

• Increase self-worth.
• Develop healthy relationships.
• Recognize how ACE’s impact your daily functioning.
• Feel less anxious and depressed.
• Feel hopeful about the future.

Get Started with a Trauma Informed Therapist

I specialize in trauma therapy and EMDR therapy to help survivors of childhood abuse. Contact me today to get started with Childhood Trauma Therapy. 

Online Locations: Nashville, Tennessee – Brentwood, Tennessee – Atlanta, Georgia – Sandy Springs, Georgia – Greater Tennessee and Georgia Area