Childhood trauma (CT) has been repeatedly linked to the onset and severity of bipolar disorder (BD) in adulthood. However, this knowledge is primarily based on retrospective and cross-sectional studies in adults with BD. There is not a definitive conclusion that childhood trauma may be responsible for the onset of BD, but multiple case studies have shown that it plays a pervasive role in the development and course of the disorder.
Children’s trauma, particularly emotional abuse, is prevalent in bipolar disorder, and affective instability mechanistically explains the relationship between BD and childhood trauma. Among environmental stressors, childhood trauma has emerged as one of the most important factors associated with bipolar disorders. Significantly higher rates of childhood trauma were observed in patients with bipolar I and bipolar II disorder compared to controls.
There has been little investigation of early trauma in bipolar disorder despite evidence that stress impacts the course of this illness. Research suggests that experiencing trauma growing up can add to the risk of developing bipolar disorder, particularly earlier on in life, according to the DSM-5-TR. Contributing risk factors include genetics, childhood maltreatment or trauma, substance misuse, along with stressful life events, other medical conditions.
In conclusion, childhood trauma may be associated with physical symptoms and the age of onset in bipolar depression patients. A history of childhood trauma has also been associated with an increased risk for earlier age of onset, rapid cycling, and mental health issues. Many psychiatric disorders, such as bipolar disorder, depression, and substance use disorder, are linked to childhood trauma.
📹 How Childhood Trauma Can Make You A Sick Adult | Big Think
A renowned physician and researcher, Dr. Vincent J. Felitti is one of the world’s foremost experts on childhood trauma. Leading …
Does a bipolar person know they are bipolar?
Bipolar disorder is not always known by everyone, and there are various reasons why they may not realize or deny it. It is similar to other mental health conditions, such as depression and ADHD, which are often diagnosed first. Depression is a part of bipolar disorder, and most people are more familiar with it than mania. ADHD can also look similar to bipolar disorder, especially in children. Once a person discovers they have bipolar disorder, they may replace any previous diagnosis or have multiple mental health conditions at once. If someone is being treated for a mental illness but still struggles with bipolar disorder symptoms, it’s worth considering that there may be more going on.
What is the first red flag of bipolar disorder?
Sleep needing less is a significant indicator of a manic episode, often easier to detect than mood changes. Monitoring sleep levels can help identify impending, existing, and receding mood states. Common warning signs of an impending manic episode include increased energy, decreased sleep need, rapid speech, inappropriate or impulsive behavior, overspending, taking on new tasks, increased sexuality, impaired concentration, racing thoughts, excitement or irritability, anger or hostility, and inflated self-esteem. These symptoms can help identify and manage the potential for a manic episode. Regular monitoring of sleep levels can help identify and manage mood states effectively.
Can early childhood trauma cause mental illness?
Childhood trauma can lead to a variety of mental health disorders that can persist into adulthood, particularly if the trauma was prolonged or severe. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common condition associated with childhood trauma, causing symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, and avoidance behaviors that can interfere with daily life. Anxiety and depression are also common mental health conditions associated with childhood trauma, with children developing generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder, as well as depression. These conditions can persist into adulthood and significantly impact a person’s quality of life.
How does bipolar disorder develop?
The aetiology of bipolar disorder is thought to reside in chemical imbalances within the brain, particularly in neurotransmitters such as noradrenaline, serotonin and dopamine. An imbalance in these neurotransmitters can result in the manifestation of symptoms such as mania and depression. Episodes of mania are associated with elevated noradrenaline levels, whereas depression is linked to decreased noradrenaline levels.
Can early childhood trauma cause BPD?
Trauma, such as physical or sexual abuse, emotional neglect, abandonment, or other hardships during childhood, can lead to the development of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). BPD is a mental illness that affects an individual’s feelings about themselves and others, making it difficult to control emotions and manage behavior. It results in intense emotions, poor self-image, and impulsivity, which can lead to problems in everyday life and difficulty maintaining friendships and relationships. A person with BPD may avoid abandonment, display inappropriate anger, or experience ongoing feelings of emptiness.
What is the root cause of bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a complex mental health condition that often runs in families, with genetics being a major factor. People with certain genes are more likely to develop the disorder than others, but no single gene can cause it. Studies of identical twins have shown that one twin can develop bipolar disorder while the other does not. Most people with a family history of bipolar disorder will not develop it. Brain structure and function of individuals with bipolar disorder may differ from those without the disorder, which helps researchers understand the disorder and predict the best treatment options.
Bipolar disorder is diagnosed through a physical exam, medical testing, and a mental health professional evaluation, based on the severity, length, and frequency of symptoms and experiences over an individual’s lifetime.
What are bipolar facial features?
The male bipolar patient face is laterally broad, lengthened anterio-posteriorly, and the mouth is set posteriorly. It features a turned down nose, narrow mouth, forward chin, wide mandible, displaced cheeks, narrower eyes, and wider face at tragion. These surface findings support landmark data.
Among females, 14 polymorphic features (PCs) account for 87. 1 of total shape variance. Goodall’s test was non-significant, while Hotelling’s test was marginal. A parsimonious regression model identified individual PCs to distinguish female bipolar patients from controls. The mean face is color-coded to highlight geometric features that distinguish female bipolar patients from female controls.
In terms of facial features, the female bipolar patient face is vertically short, laterally broad, and set anteriorly. It has a wider nose, a recessed nasal bridge, a wider mouth, thinner lips, a higher and forward chin, an upwardly displaced mandible, displaced cheeks, narrower eyes, and wider face at tragion. These features are further elaborated on by landmark data.
What age does bipolar start?
Bipolar disorder, typically diagnosed in the teenage years or early 20s, can manifest as mania or hypomania. Mania is more severe than hypomania, causing noticeable problems at work, school, and social activities. It may also cause psychosis, a break from reality. Both episodes involve three or more of these symptoms, and many individuals may need hospital treatment. Both episodes can cause noticeable problems in social interactions and interpersonal relationships.
Can trauma mimic bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are two distinct mental health conditions that can share symptoms such as disturbing thoughts, depression, difficulty concentrating, and suicide attempts. However, a correct diagnosis is crucial for creating an appropriate treatment plan. In the United States, one in five adults lives with a mental health condition, and 1 in 11 people will receive a PTSD diagnosis at some point in their lives. Living with both conditions can complicate the diagnosis process.
What kind of childhood trauma causes bipolar?
Bipolar disorder, a mental health condition, can be influenced by childhood trauma, such as neglect, sexual, physical, or emotional abuse. These traumas can significantly impact an individual’s ability to manage their emotions, potentially leading to the development of the disorder. Treatment options include medication, therapy, and support groups. It is crucial to understand and address these factors to ensure a healthy and balanced life.
Can someone suddenly become bipolar?
Bipolar disorder typically develops before the age of 20, but can develop later in life. Symptoms may persist for some time before a doctor diagnoses the disorder, as diagnosing mental illnesses can be challenging due to limitations in diagnostic tools like blood tests and scans. Previously known as manic depression, bipolar disorder symptoms can impact daily life, relationships, and work. The different types of symptoms include mood swings, irritability, and mood swings. It is important for doctors to be aware of these potential symptoms to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment.
📹 How to Differentiate Bipolar Disorder from a Trauma Response, with Ruth Lanius
In How to Differentiate Bipolar Disorder from a Trauma Response, Ruth Lanius, MD, PhD, will share one particular symptom that …
I was sexually abused at ages 3 and 7, had an alcoholic mother, divorced parents, an emotionally abusive step parent and suffered emotional neglect and physical abuse by my only sibling. The cards were stacked against me and I went on to become an obese pre adolescent, an eating disordered teenager and to become alcoholic and drug addicted as a teen and adult. I’ve struggled all my life and attempted suicide 5 times very seriously. I’m lucky to be alive and I’m now clean and sober, at a normal weight although I still struggle with eating disorder to a much milder degree and I no longer require antidepressants and have stabilized my life. I still struggle emotionally with extreme stress, some chronic anxiety and chronic headaches and migraines. Life is tough and I sustained permanent damage as a small child. I assume I will struggle to some degree all my life. I wish no child suffers these things but the world is very cruel.
No one knows how to fix this problem…I do. So first of all…We must keep focused on who we are NO matter what! I suffered extreme physical abuse as a child. It was hurtful beyond words. I was born a loving person, and thusly, I loved my parents. They did not deserve that love, and they used my loving nature to expound upon the physical abuse that they supposed would bring me to heel to thier word. It did not. I proved myself stronger than they were, even as a two-year old. As who I am now? Exponentially stronger.
Stop selfishness, parents. I was badly s/abused, I put my wants and needs on hold and my child had a great childhood. Then he grows up and bang it hits me. And I become ill. People need to realise you have kids, it’s your job to bring them up in the best way, or go to prison. If you hit a person or injured a person you’d be arrested. If you don’t do your job as a parent you get arrested.
Like most people here I was traumatized growing up. I urge my fellow sufferers to read anything and everything by Alice Miller, whose work saved my life. A good place to start is with “The Drama of the Gifted Child.” Also, learn about toxic shame and the terrible effect it probably had on your life. John Bradshaw is the person to look at there, not Brenee Brown.
I am interested in ready up on the study, your presentation was exactly the information I need that supports the impact of early childhood trauma and what it can look like when the abused/victim becomes an adult. Unaddressed early childhood trauma has a major impact on lifespan longevity. Can you share more about the health risk with risky behaviors.
I can relate to so much of what you had to say. I’ll not spill out my suffering or the issues I’ve had in life here. Sure wish I could get help. Not ONE psychiatrist in the large metropolitan city I live in will take me on as a patient. So it’s just me and God and that’s OK. I’ve not got long to continue this hard life. I look forward to going Home.
I’m curious what years as a child and into a teenager and into an adult of perusal Gore, murders, beheadings, tortures, suicides, humans doing horrible things to one another…all that messed up shit for years. Does it do anything to one’s psyche? I’ve come to think that the only people that should see that are the ones committing those horrible actions. If the eyes are gateways to the soul then what do those images do to a person? I’ve got quite a few issues and I’m curious if anything could be related, like giving yourself PTSD. Not to add that my life outside the computer was also abusive from my father for 15yrs..just makes me wonder. Any opinions?
My mom has hurt me so deeply sometimes I can’t even eat when I look at her on the holidays it’s so hard it brings it back I’m not a sick individual but I know I’m a child of God and I’m different from her how can that woman be my mother? She is so superficial I raise my sisters she did nothing but be a drunk and do drugs.
He’s describing everything about me! I’m 52 now and it’s like all this is rushing back to me and I can’t get help. No facilities around where I live. I feel like I’m losing my mind! I was a high functioning adult! College and a great job for 23 years, but now I’m struggling to even live! I’m not an alcoholic, not a drug user, but have colon problems, headaches, Vertigo from head beatings as a child. I’m tired all the time. The joy is gone from my life. 😢
It’s too complex of a problem, the more society increases population, combine with urbanization and destruction of nature is when these abuses will continue. For now, to stop the bleeding a marriage licence needs to be implemented, in the same way a doctor needs a licence to practice, a marriage licence should require all adults who want to marry and have children understand the importance of parenting, relationships the context of abuse basically a psychology course that adults who have children must pass before having children, or those who already have children must get the licence.
I’ve been sexually abused as a child and bullied all my life. I try everyday to make the pain go away but it never works. The only thing that makes me feel better is drugs, i love drugs its like the only time when i don’t feel shitty. No amount of psychology has helped so i’m probably gonna grow up to be a failure, i am forever fucked.
Well it’s true I can vouch for it, I was abused by my kindergarten teacher, she beat me repeatedly everyday for a year straight I stopped caring about school even till this day, so I ignore all school subjects and make no wish to make friends till I got to high school, and while at it my parents misunderstood my trauma for incompetence and laziness and they punished me for it, and my classmates treat me like some stupid person because I don’t talk much to them and they harassment me to no end. I went to see physiatrist few times but none successfully identify the issue, so my parents took that as assurance and blames me even more, never once I tell them the truth because they will never understand, i never thought of suicide only because of my stubborn will, however I used to think I won’t live till My adulthood cuz I think I will probably die somewhere in my 18th of age, so since feeling that I don’t have long to live, it actually made my life a bit comforting cuz to me it’s like make the remaining days count, since my elementary till the end of my school years, everyday I go to sleep feel hopelessness, rarely I lash out to them because I don’t want to be like that and part of me know that I know better than become like them, but there’s some uncontrollable rage inside and hateful words between the age of 15 till 20sh, so I never once cared about learning what school taught me not because I don’t like to learn, quite the contrary I always had a strong desire to learn so I spend countless hours in library to read for myself, and slowly I start to learn how to communicate with people simply because Im willing to share my knowledge, but I never truly connect with anyone, which force me to be independent mentally, After I start working I meet a girl I feel for but quickly reject, since the rejection it actually triggered something inside me, something awoken me, I start to meditate in daily basis and listen to music more often, the inner hate start to die down, and turns my resentment for others into understanding, soon I start a long lasting self inspiration, and spend far more time reading even than before, I start to forgive and those people and not remembering them for what they inflict on me instead of what they are nice to me, my inner outburst rarely happens now but it’s getting rarer by the days then weeks then month, I turned my past into my greatest lesson and proof that one of my belief is correct, I have a will no one in my life have, and I will make this into my relentless strife for productivity
I grew up in a really bad neighborhood where alot of men that had done time for rape or man slaughter lived. They hanged out in the corner harassing anyone that passed by. When i started to develop they started telling me they would rape me and all this crazy shit. My mother did nothing to get me out of that situation. Half the time she didnt even understand what they were saying because she didnt speak english. I ended up gaining so much weight and then i noticed they left me alone because i was fat. I would use my weight a protection and throw it around as a way to intimedate. I became loud and aggressive. Now that im older i have to saw the damage feels to much to fix. I lost my womanhood my femininity, my body is wrecked from all the weight gain. And i hate to say it i hate men. Ive tried so hard to see that not all men are bad but everytime i see one i see a rapist and murderer,my tormentors. I wish i wasnt such a poor excuse of a woman.
My mother and my brother had been beaten and I struggled mentally like depression, self-harm, alcohol, an eating disorder and so on. But comparing victims of sexual abuse or my own brother who killed himself and someone like me, my problems aren’t big deals But I feel so much pain and it doesn’t let me go😢
These 10 categories are badly worded. One would think that if it didn’t happen at home with your immediate family it doesn’t fit and you’re ok. Sadly many children are abused outside the home by caregivers one’s parents turn them over to for weeks or years during the developmental stages of life, such as the Catholic nuns, brothers and priests. The parents believing they are putting their children in the hands of God’s representatives on earth easily ignore signs of abuse and most likely think it’s the child’s fault. The child has no where to go since all adults in his or her life seem united, so it must be the child that is a fault.
sadly after my experience as a child growing up with alcoholism in the family and the disfunctionality it inflicts,i feel am working with half a tool kit while wearing lead boots,robbed of my youth robbed of hitting my full potential.i suppose there’s is worse things in this world. still frustrating that outside family didn’t step in to stop the ongoing conflict.
Dear, Dr. Felitti, your presentation is if you had watched me as a child and saw the trauma I suffered. I had the major signs of a boy who had been sexually molested before the age of six. I had the stretch marks on my private part of an adult male involved with pornography when I was six years old. When I woke up to life I had these stretch marks and so whoever molested me did so possibly when I was a baby. Additionally, I was held back in the 3rd grade because of an inability to focus and learn. My mother told me I should have been put in treatment for depression when I was in grade school. Doctors would have seen the stretch marks, gym teachers, and swim teachers would have seen these stretch marks. The Child Protection Act of 1974 required teachers and doctors to report the sex abuse of children. I was in school in 1974. Nothing was ever reported, and I never received any treatment for the early childhood trauma I suffered. This has had a tremendous negative impact on my entire life. I believe it is possible I was sexually molested on purpose and there never was a plan to treat me for the trauma. I believe it is possible I was the object of a hate crime because I am a white heterosexual male of German Christian heritage and those that hate German males created a network whereby I would be degraded and ridiculed and they could advance themselves in comparison. The taboo of not discussing the sex abuse of a child had have played a major role in why no one said anything about the obvious signs I had of a boy that had been sexually molested.
Neglected and abandoned twice, by my mother. I lived with my father from age 11 to 19. Never once was anything discussed. I never told friends, family, no one asked. I just went with the flow. Promiscuity, alcohol, drugs, single parent, $12/hour wages. The struggles were immense. Now my health is failing.
Why are children like these still being born? Why aren’t adult women and men making sure that children do not experience these traumas? Why are women giving birth to children they know will have traumas due to an abusive alcoholic father or her own drug use? Why are men still trying to control the the fact that these children “deserve to live” when they care nothing of the environment the children will live in after birth? Why the utter selfishness and disregard for prevention?
I had everything that I ever wanted growing up. I lacked nothing, save for emotional nourishment. The severe emotional neglect has led me to having a complete lack of self love. The only way I can really feel somewhat better is to see people punished for what they did to me. Why must I pay for what someone did to me?! Why must I go through hellish self reflection when evil people have done such demonic things to me. This neglect cost me everything.
Dear Researcher, Have you tried introducing the study group subjects to Vipassana meditation? It has helped a lot of people and could be an answer to people who have had such experiences. Towards the end of the article you talk about primary prevention which would be great but not very practically feasible in privacy of people’s homes.
When you have an illness that causes you to be in a wheelchair for the rest of your life people clearly see this and do not question your ability to not be able to function as someone who is able bodied. When you have been crippled emotionally, you are seen as crazy and you’re just looking at things all wrong. Food has been the only thing that hasn’t let me down among people I have been close to so I am now overweight. God is my source but the illness is still there.i quit going to stores. Mean people I can’t handle. I quit my job over people that hurt me severely and now have to find another and am totally crippled with even the thought of it. I cry like someone who lost a loved one with just the thought of going around people again. If I don’t, they can’t hurt me. I’m looking at losing my home and all else if I don’t. I cannot afford psychotherapy. This is one of many results of abuse and emotional neglect.
I always think that I can’t be having childhood trauma because my father was kind, my mother was just trying her best to keep us afloat..but the more I learn about mental health, the more I see signs of childhood trauma in myself — low self esteem, anxiety, even episodes of mild depression. But I keep telling myself I wasn’t in a real bad place because my family is reasonably fine compared to the people in this comment section. This prevented me from seeking help, to be honest.
People don’t realise how bad it gets knowing that, you can’t have your childhood back, it’s just one time that you are a child and then rest of your life its just sickness which stays with you forever and eat your even soul. Please don’t bring kids into the world whwn you are not prepared. I wonder! people do so much preparation for other things in life and forget about parenting. 😔😔😔😔😔😔😔
Reading these comments have made me feel a lot less alone. I’m struggling badly today as I cannot stop thinking about things and replaying it in my mind which often takes up a lot of my days. In the last 6 months I have gotten a really bad case of ibs and I look pregnant all the time and feels so uncomfortable and has put me In a really bad depression. My mother abused me and my sisters really badly growing up but the worst memory I have was when I was strangled at the age of 6 for simply leaving my friend for 2 minutes to find a Barbie doll to play with. A year ago I confronted my mum to which she acted as if she had no idea what I was talking about until she snapped and told me I deserved it. When I started doing psychedelics, I re experienced it and remembered it in so much detail and I even remember she moment she let go was only because her mum came knocking at the door to pick her up which saved my life. What is even more difficult is that i am now 22 and still live with my mum and have tried 3 different jobs this year but I end up just not turning up and blocking their numbers as my anxiety is just taking over and I cannot deal with anything. If anyone wants to talk to me, that would be really helpful as I have never opened up before and would be really be healing to connect with people who have gone through something similar, thank you.
My ex husband is an alcoholic, he grew up in a dysfunctional family, his father was an abusive alcoholic. His older brother was an alcoholic too and he died at age 50. I’m afraid that my ex husband is becoming his older brother since he doesn’t take care of himself. My ex husband and his siblings experienced same childhood trauma but his older sister and younger brother are not an alcoholic. I just wonder why?
I’m heartbroken and in tears reading the comments. I’m 42 years old and never had children because I never thought I could be a good mother and wanted to end the generational trauma from being passed down. I recently experienced myself acting as the abuser on a helpless dependent that I LOVED & justifying it as “this is what my mother used to do, so it’s ok, I’m allowed” which only gave me a pass to increase perpetuating the abusive behavior. (*I was at this time being abused daily by a coworker, which I believe triggered the response in me.) It was HORRIBLE & terrifying and I will live with the regret and immeasurable guilt every single second of every day for the rest of my life. Yet, if I didn’t have dependents, I would kill myself. And now I’m hyper aware of the abuse I am capable of passing down to those I love and it has made me double down on never having children. Additionally, as touched on in the article, being traumatized/abused in childhood also makes you super susceptible to continue finding yourself in abusive relationships. I have never had a loving, stable relationship, I only ever find myself stuck with narcissistic abusers, which only serves to intensify the trauma. Even in the workplace I find myself with abusive bosses or managers and struggle attempting to navigate those relationships. Most of my employment only lasts 6 months because of this, which compounds the psychological stress of crippling finances and insecurity about the future.
Ever since I realized my pets were afraid of me after abusing them, I found out that the way my Dad punished me as a kid was also abuse. Most of the time, he would abuse me emotionally and yells at me for several minor things. Even as an adult, he still yells at me and even makes fun of my appearance and behavior. My mom did mention that he was also abused by his own parents, but they were physically abusive to him. Even most of his siblings abused him, making him feel neglected most of the time. I wanted to help my dad feel welcomed, but he would still yell at me for a few things once in a while. He also mentions how he never wanted kids due to how they could experience the same cruelty in this world as my Dad once did. I understood how having kids in this world can be tough. I don’t want to have kids either not because of them living in this messed up society, but also because I might end up abusing them as well. I feel like violence runs in our family since some of my uncles abuse their own families and went to prison for their violent crimes. Even my Grandpa went to prison for almost decapitating someone that he was in a huge argument with. While I’m still living with my parents, I am trying to control myself by understanding my pets and even apologizing to them after they were afraid of me. It isn’t their fault since they had their own behaviors. It’s mine since I’m still trying to get rid of my anger issues that I’ve been struggling since I was a kid. I know everyone hates people who abuses others, and I’m really trying to change.
For those who have suffered at the hands (or voices) of their own parents please understand that they too are likely victims of trauma, neglect or abuse. By no means am I excusing the bad behavior but generational trauma is also a thing and holding contempt for your parents will only tear down your own psyche in the long run… as they say it’s like drinking poison and expecting the other person to suffer the effects when it’s actually our own selves who will suffer from prolonged anger and/or contempt. Healing and forgiveness are key of course, my heart goes out to all of you seek to understand the root of their suffering and make sincere attempts to heal and grow from it… or maybe grow “through” it is a better way to put it.
I wish someone would listen to you in the UK. I’ve been abused since like forever. I’m 59 this year, all agencies in my country have abandoned me. I’m an a dependent alcoholic and I don’t like food. Uk only care about alcoholism. I had major sexuel and physical and mental abuse issues. My dad and mum were ‘specials’ during WWII. They knew how to hurt. My dad taught my brother how to hurt. How to extinguish life, and then bring it back. Im anorexic. I have fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis. I have PTSD which controls an unstable personality disorder which means anger management issues and other stuff. My UK abandoned me, only focuses on alcoholism. Not my major concern. Panic attacks, mania and anger. Bet you don’t want to help. Too old, too far gone. Somebody elses problem.
I think one of the solutions could be normalizing therapy, and making it more affordable and accessible for people. There are so many people out there who abuse their kids because they were abused, and they were abused because they’re parents were abused and so on. It’s a cycle, and if even one of them can go to therapy and break that cycle, that would be incredible. But if they never get help, it’s gonna keep repeating through generations. Imagine a society where most people have been to therapy in their lifetime, and that’s the “norm”. I think the world would be a lot better place.
I take issue with this. “Heavy duty physical abuse (I’m not talking spanking)”. spanking is still physical abuse and can still have a negative impact on the child. Firstly, it’s teaching the child that they should fear physical assault if they don’t behave. secondly, spanking is teaching the child that violence is a just and fair consequence to their actions. thirdly, “spanking” is ambiguous in the way, method and level at which it is used, this means that the ability for spanking to turn into severe physical abuse is all too easy. Let me ask you this, if a partner or friend was to treat you in a way which you didn’t like, or to act in a way which is morally wrong, would you spank them to “teach them a lesson”? Or would you have the police called and charges out against you for physical assault? So why is this different for a SMALL, HELPLESS CHILD?
I’m a survivor of childhood trauma. It has so many effects on me my heart is closed off. I’m afraid to let people get close to me. My mother has a severe mental illness so she abused us as kids. Once I was older I started paying attention to her family structure she didn’t come from the best family childhood trauma is a generational curse in my family. So that helped me to forgive my mother cause she was abused also by her mentally ill mother. Now I’m currently working on loving myself and releasing all that pain that’s holding me back. I’m breaking my generational curses with my children who I love and adore so much. GOD heals all wounds. You just have to do the work and be patient with yourself. Sending every one loving and healing energy ❤️❤️❤️💖
This brought tears to my eyes, it caught me off guard. I hate drugs because of what they did to my Family, so I guess my drug of choice is eating 🙁 . My Family was so dysfunctional, I try really hard NOT to think about it too long, because it will throw my mood into a downward spiral. I also neglect myself, I wouldn’t treat anyone else the way I allow me to treat myself, I guess it is a form of self-hatred / self-loathing ? I do my best, but the TRUTH is never far behind me 🙁 . You can’t run from the truth !!! The TRUTH is my childhood was really stressful, chaotic, and unpredictable. To this day, I DO NOT LIKE CHANGE !!!! …. it is a form of “Prison”.
I went through numerous forms of abuse and neglect and yes it can take a toll on a person but….I chose to break the cycle. You can overcome it and live life… Get help… because it’s easy to give up and listen to those dark voices that whisper to you. I grew up getting shifted between 3 different homes, changing schools multiple times every school year ( and that’s 2-3 different schools in one school year.) Had to deal with alcoholics and their violence, broken home, mental abuse,..the list goes on. My point is…you can overcome it and be happy… It’s all mindset.
I remember perusal the Waltons when i was 10 years old. I always wished my family could be like theirs. I realised then that my family was broken. I wanted what all of my friends had that my sister & i never had. A real family that didn’t physically or verbal abuse me. Someone who would lisen to me & understood what i was going through and actually cared. I would have given anything to have been treated better.
Yup, definitely have had problems (PTSD, OCD, frequent bouts of depression, have been suicidal in the past, also have had cancer and I have Crohn’s, an immune disease). The pandemic also turned me from functional to non-functional. Even though I’m double-vaccinated I do not leave the house because I am so triggered by being around other people who I don’t know are vaccinated and don’t seem to care about wearing masks or social distancing even though infection rates are very much non-zero. It’s not that I’m afraid of the virus, it’s that I’m afraid of others not valuing my safety, which is a direct line back to my childhood trauma. A close friend of mine who also had childhood trauma is going through the exact same thing. It’s uncanny. And I feel so much shame for not being functional, not viewing the pandemic as somewhat over and still keeping to lockdown rules when we’re not in lockdown. The only positive has been that I realised that it’s not me who is worthless (which is what drove my depression in the past), it’s society is not worthy of me (which sounds totally egotistical, but I think is true–I’ve been totally appalled at the lack of compassion about 2/3s of society has shown during the pandemic. There is something deeply wrong there).
Something more important–overcoming it. Something I told my own subscribers this week. As I see this daily as a healthcare provider. People who are destroyed adults because they couldn’t outrun a terrible childhood. Too many times this becomes the excuse to give up. The reason someone won’t try. “Because this (fill in the blank) happened to me.” Now understand I am not discounting terrible childhoods. I had one as well. What I am saying is that the world doesn’t care. It is totally indifferent. It may owe you but good luck trying to collect. The only way to collect your due is to go out and seek it, pursue it and take it back from the universe. The stories of great triumph are rarely without great adversity–ever notice that? Most will lie down to bad circumstances. But those who get up and fight back will insure that their story is a great one. Hope this helps someone out there—keep being great—Charles.
I’m 31 and I have never had sex with a girl . I was born gay ( it’s diferente from being bi who decides to have a boyfriend) I’m 100% gay. Not 50/50. Hope u understand. My heart races when I’m surrounded people. I have always kept away from people and now I don’t have friends. But now that I feel more mature and looking for friends, It’s been difficult to find friends at this age.
I suffered from a very, very violent childhood and in that I’ve found both profound wisdom, conflict and despair. It made me grow up rather quickly, I found that I was easily persuaded by alcohol and various other addictive activities. Struggling to take a revolver out of the hands of your abuser so they don’t kill themselves has an effect on one’s psyche, to know they could’ve easily ended their life and ended your own suffering is a powerful one. I fell into alcoholic tendancies for around a year, I haven’t touched it since because all that has been suppressed for all of these years comes to the surface.
I remember, after I finally managed to get myself in a safe environment without the constant contact with emotional abusive people all the shit started to creep up on me. I felt devastated. I felt like my hole life was a lie as I realized that my so outgoing extrovert personality was overtuned and more like a coping mechanism. I finally realized how hard my childhood had really hit into my inner being. The neglect, the alcoholism of my parents, the physical and mostly emotional abuse of people in my family that I witnessed. The emotional abuse I experienced, the chronic depression disease of my mother. And the crazy thing is that so many people in my environment never thought that this is what’s going on in my life. They thought that I’m so happy and positive and I achieve everything I want and I’m so strong. Well, this is true but at the same time not. Luckily, I did not turn to drugs or similar as my sister did and focused on my career etc. But now I focus strongly on getting better and working on all the trauma. It get’s better but from time to time it hits again. The things I experienced will never leave me but now I manage them better. I tell people when I feel sad, overwhelmed or any other negative emotion. I tell them when I’m truly happy. I fight for my boundaries and respect the ones from other people. It’s a continuous journey. I pray for all the people that are facing this shit every day 🙏
In my opinion, if your not going to present a solution to the problem, then don’t present a problem. The main question is now what? I had two sociopathic parents and I suffered alot not only from the effects of trauma but the willingness of the medical community to perpetuate the problem by not offering a way out that is concrete. All I want is to make my life better now. I want to be my own advocate because the truth is alot of therapies for developmental trauma do not work.
I see a lot of comments along the lines of “dont have kids if you were abused” or “hurt people hurt people”, but that is so hurtful to good people who just happened to be their parents’ punching bag. I’m always the one entertaining the kids at family gatherings, the one who will do anything for the people in my life, the one who’s always aiming to make the people around him smile, etc. I would hate to be judged for the scars my parents left on me.
Y’know, it’s been said that the best way to judge the quality of a society is by how it treats it’s poor, mentally ill, abused, etc. Essentially, the most vulnerable members of that society. Unfortunately, one look at some of the comments on these boards is enough to let you know our society (the U.S.) is deeply screwed. Blaming the victim seems to have practically become a favored pastime here: if you feel down, just go shit all over someone less fortunate than you. Yuck.
I was only ten when both my drug addict parents passed away. They abused me physically and emotionally. For ten years of my child hood. Only love I ever knew was none. When they finally passed I was broken but I knew as I got older the best thing they could of done was die. I’m 42 years old now. And still struggle with my emotions. But I could say I never abused my young kids. I never abused my wife. I never had a drug addiction. I was lucky. Unlike many who grew up abused. Love you guys. Hold strong. 🤙