Dealing With Childhood Trauma

There are so many ways that our youth impacts the rest of our lives. Whether we have positive or negative memories, you can bet that these experiences will greatly shape the rest of your life. Dealing with childhood trauma is tricky because many adults have issues and never tie the two together. Even those that suffer from abuse, don’t realize that their mental problems later in life are a result of the trauma that they experienced. Herb Cohen is an expert at treating trauma, and he finds the root of the problem.

Why do we hold onto the trauma of our youth?

When you experience trauma as a child, especially abuse, your brain tries to protect you by freezing the moment. Most victims of abuse completely blackout the abuse that they experience. Your brain is trying to save you from reliving this experience by completely shutting you off to it. While this works for the moment, your emotions are still imprinted on your brain. So, you will never be able to get over the effects of the trauma without counseling. You need to reprogram your brain and Herb Cohen can help with that.

Do you have symptoms of trauma?

Many adults, since they block out the memories, are unaware that they are victims of trauma. However, there are symptoms that develop later in life that are indicative or childhood trauma. Some of which are:

• Eating disorders and addiction
• Feelings of emptiness or detachment
• Irrational fears
• Not being able to be around or handle conflict
• Cutting and self-harm
• Flashbacks that can occur in the form of nightmares
• Panic attacks and anxiety
• Suicidal ideation and depression
• Avoiding situations that remind you of a traumatic event, even if subconsciously

You think you have suffered from trauma, now what?

First, you need to acknowledge that you have a problem and seek help. We mentioned that it is important to reprogram your brain so you can move forward in a healthy way, and this will require a treatment program. Seek out a counselor and begin to tackle the experiences of your youth. The purpose of a treatment plan is for you to get closure. You can choose alternative therapies or just go and talk to someone. If you are putting the work in, you will begin to get better. Make sure that you don’t like your comfortability hold you back. Many people don’t seek treatment because they’re afraid to be vulnerable. It is from a point of transparency that you will finally be able to feel relief.

Does your child have trauma?

If you notice a difference in your child’s behavior, it could be because they have experienced trauma. They might be suffering from nightmares, changes in eating, fire starting, or changes in demeanor. Children don’t always voice when something is going on in their lives, so it’s important that adults pay attention to unusual behavior patterns.

If you find that you are dealing with childhood trauma issues, contact Herb Cohen today. We can go over a treatment plan to move you past the trauma of your past, so that you can receive closure!