Positive thoughts come to mind when we think of childhood. Joy, innocence, and happiness are all words that come to mind. However, this does not always appear to be the case. Child traumatic stress disorder is a condition where children who are exposed to many traumas during their childhood acquire characteristics that endure and harm their daily lives even long after the events have passed. Various responses such as stressful and continuous emotional distress, psychological distress or nervousness, cognitive problems, personality challenges, difficulties making friends or loss of previously learned skills, awareness and school performance, bad dreams, difficulty eating properly, and physical issues, are just a few examples. As they become teenagers, they may abuse illegal substances, engage in risky behavior, or consent to unsafe sexual conduct. These symptoms are typical in children with traumatic stress disorder who are reminded of the traumatic event in any way. While we all experience psychological stress from time to time, when a child experiences serious trauma, these feelings obstruct their ability to function and connect with others. Stressful circumstances can have a negative influence on children of all ages. Even neonates and teenagers are susceptible to traumatic stress. Psychological anguish manifests itself in various ways in different children based on their age and developmental stage.
Traumatic events may include but not be limited to any of the following: school violence, bullying, terrorism, community violence abuse, homelessness, cyberbullying, racism, illness, economic stress, familial violence, and accident, or even school shootings. Recognize and accept the trauma for what it is. Childhood trauma victims sometimes spend years minimizing or rejecting the experience by pretending it never happened or succumbing to emotions of shame or self-blame. The best way to start healing is to accept that a horrific incident took place and that you were not to blame.
First, you must regain control of the situation. Helplessness may last long into adulthood, making you feel and act like a lifelong victim and leading you to make decisions based on your previous suffering. When you're a victim, your present is ruled by your past. However, once you've overcome your grief, you're in charge of the present. There will always be a conflict between the past and the present, but if you're ready to let go of the old barriers and crutches you needed as a kid to navigate your trauma, you may retake control of your life now and heal your suffering. Seek help and don’t isolate yourself. Many trauma survivors have a natural tendency to withdraw from people, but this will only make matters worse. Connecting with other people is an important part of the healing process, so make an effort to maintain your relationships and seek assistance. Consider speaking with a trusted family member, friend, or counselor, as well as joining a support group for childhood trauma survivors.
It is very important to look after your health. If you are healthy, your capacity to manage stress will improve. Create a daily regimen that allows you to get enough sleep, consume healthy food, and exercise on a regular basis. The most essential thing is to avoid alcohol and drugs. Find out what accepting and letting go really means. Acceptance does not imply acceptance of your trauma, nor does it imply that you enjoy or agree with it. Acceptance implies that you've determined what you'll do with it. Letting yourself let go means no longer allowing your terrible childhood memories and sentiments to keep you from enjoying a decent life now. Good habits should take the place of harmful habits. Negativity and continually distrusting people are two examples of bad habits, as is resorting to drinking or drugs when emotions become too much to handle. It's difficult to overcome bad habits, especially when they've been used as crutches to keep you from reliving the agony and suffering of your past.
Finally, allow yourself to be patient. When you've been significantly harmed as a child, you'll struggle to let go of out-of-control emotions, hopelessness, defensive mechanisms, and distorted perspectives. It will take a long time and a lot of effort to let go of these emotions. Be patient with yourself and acknowledge your accomplishments, no matter how minor they may appear. It's the small triumphs along the way that will finally help you win the war of childhood trauma healing.
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