Adults who experienced Childhood Trauma
Do you continue to struggle with things you experienced many years ago? Have you experienced any of the following:
Physical abuse at the hands of parents, caregivers, or other family members
Verbal abuse such as frequent criticism, insults, or name-calling
Feeling that no one cared about how you felt and feeling that no one listened to you
Told that you were “no good”, “dumb”, “would never amount to anything”, etc.
Not allowed any privacy in your own home
Unrealistic expectations of you for your age
If you are an adult who experienced childhood trauma, abuse, or neglect (including emotional neglect), you may experience one or more of the following:
Sleep disturbance
Feelings of shame and guilt (even if you have done nothing wrong)
Difficulty trusting others
Second guessing yourself frequently
Repeatedly finding yourself in unhealthy relationships
Chronic hypervigilance (feeling on guard and tense)
Difficulty managing emotions
Intrusive reminders or nightmares of past events
Symptoms of depression and/or anxiety
Negative childhood experiences can have long-term consequences impacting relationships with family members, friends, and coworkers. Low self-esteem, lack of self-confidence, unhealthy relationships, avoidance behaviors, and substance abuse are commonly experienced by persons who experienced childhood abuse and/or neglect. Feelings of confusion and even doubting your own memories can lead to difficulty focusing and concentrating at work, school or in other areas of your life.
Maybe you have tried to deal with childhood experiences on your own or with help of someone else. Or maybe you try to stay busy in attempt to avoid thinking about the past because it still hurts even though it may have been a long time ago. Some people struggle for many, many years before reaching out for help. Therapy can help you learn to:
trust yourself
identify and manage emotions
identify warning signs of unhealthy relationships
set healthier boundaries with others
cope with stressors in healthier ways
become a better parent to your own children
Working with a Licensed Therapist can help you identify emotional triggers and develop healthier responses so that you can more readily pursue your own goals for your future. My clients receive training and education in strengthening healthy skills for improving daily functioning and relationships. My clients are provided a safe and supportive therapeutic environment in which to explore and process their thoughts and feelings.
Contact my office today to schedule an initial appointment
by phone 334-676-3488
or by email ddorris@debbiedorriscounseling.com