Childhoodtrauma

Many people walk through adulthood wondering why they feel stuck, unmotivated, or disconnected from their true selves.

What most don’t realize is that the roots often go back to childhood — not always through dramatic events, but through subtle emotional wounds that shaped how we see ourselves.

Trauma isn’t only what happened to us.

Trauma is also what we learned to believe about ourselves because of what happened.

Here are four of the most common childhood wounds and how they silently affect us today — along with the first steps to healing each one.

1. The Abandonment Wound: “I’m only worthy when I’m perfect.”

This wound forms when love, attention, or support only show up when a child performs well — and disappears when they don’t.

In adulthood this becomes:

fear of disappointing others

perfectionism

emotional paralysis

difficulty receiving praise

Healing begins by learning that:

“I deserve love and support even when I’m not perfect.”

Practice receiving compliments without minimizing yourself.

Every time you succeed, pause and let yourself feel proud — even for a moment.

2. The Identity Wound: “My desires don’t matter.”

When children are pushed into paths they didn’t choose, they learn to disconnect from their own intuition.

In adulthood this becomes:

chronic confusion about purpose

fear of choosing “wrong”

overthinking

chasing stability over authenticity

Healing begins with:

“My desires are my guidance, not a mistake.”

Start giving your true interests micro-permissions — 10 minutes of art, writing, creating, dreaming.

Authenticity grows through small daily choices.

3. The Self-Trust Wound: “My choices can’t be trusted.”

When children’s decisions are mocked, dismissed, or punished, they grow up doubting their own judgment.

In adulthood this shows as:

decision paralysis

seeking constant reassurance

fear of failure

starting projects but freezing halfway

The new belief is:

“There are no wrong choices — only paths that teach me.”

Choose small things without overthinking.

Let your nervous system learn that choosing is safe now.

4. The Shame Wound: “I’m the problem.”

Criticism, comparison, and emotional neglect teach children to blame themselves for things beyond their control.

In adulthood this becomes:

harsh self-talk

discouragement

low confidence

giving up quickly

Healing begins with:

“I always find my way. I am capable and growing.”

Reconnect with your resilience — the part of you that survived and rebuilt despite everything.

Breaking Free: Healing Is Rewriting the Story

Overcoming childhood trauma doesn’t mean erasing the past.

It means reprogramming the beliefs it left behind.

The moment you start replacing:

“What if I choose wrong?” → “I trust myself.”

“I’m not good enough.” → “I am learning and evolving.”

“My dreams are unrealistic.” → “My dreams are my truth.”

…your entire life begins to shift.

Because the real trauma wasn’t the event —

it was what you came to believe about yourself.

Reclaiming your identity, desires, and self-trust is the greatest act of healing.

And it’s never too late to start.

#Childhoodtrauma

Hi, I'm bells_. I'm here because I believe I have been emotionally abused my whole life, but no one in my family wants to acknowledge it. I feel exhausted and alone and am stuck in a house where the people who hurt me act like nothing happened. Has anyone else gone through this?
#CPTSD #EmotionalAbuse #Childhoodtrauma #MightyTogether

“The Silence That Shaped Me”

A true story of pain, survival, and rediscovery.

My name is not important here — what matters is the story I carry within me.

The person I’ve become today has been shaped not just by choices, but by silent battles I never asked for… but had to survive.

My childhood was supposed to be filled with innocence and laughter — but some memories left marks far deeper than bruises. I was very young when I first encountered something that no child should ever experience. A trusted neighbor, someone we used to visit without fear, took advantage of our innocence. What happened in that closed room was confusing and terrifying. I didn’t understand what he was doing at the time — only that it felt wrong. Somehow, I managed to run away. But the fear didn’t leave with me.

The second incident hit even closer to home. It was a cousin — someone I had grown up calling ‘bhai’. I had no knowledge of what was right or wrong, no awareness of how to protect myself. It started subtly — an inappropriate video, a misleading word, calling it a “game.” Slowly, his behavior crossed all limits. There were moments when I was asleep, and he would violate my space without a word. I remained silent. Too scared to speak. Too young to even fully understand. And that silence slowly became my prison.

The third time, it was yet another cousin. This one lived with us for a while at my grandmother’s house. His approach was different — almost gentle. I was still a child, and I mistook the wrong kind of attention for affection. I didn’t understand boundaries. Eventually, I realized it was wrong, and I stepped away. But by then, I had already begun to question my own worth.

These experiences didn’t just end in childhood — they left a lasting imprint on the way I saw myself, the world, and relationships. I couldn’t sit still in one place emotionally. I struggled with self-worth, with fear, and often with guilt that was never mine to carry. I kept pretending I was okay. I kept running from the shadows of my past.

Until something changed.

Amidst this chaos, I met someone — unexpectedly. A boy, living far away, who entered my life with a kind heart and a gentle soul. In a world where I had forgotten how to trust, he made me feel safe. He didn’t know about my past, but he recognized my present pain. Instead of running from it, he stood by me — with patience, with care, and with love that asked for nothing in return.

For the first time, I began to feel human again.

I began to believe that I could be loved — not despite my past, but simply for who I am.

Even now, there are nights when old memories visit.

Even now, I struggle with things I can’t always explain.

But now… I have someone who doesn’t demand perfection — he walks beside me through the imperfection.

This is my story — real, raw, and unfiltered.

Not for sympathy. Not for attention.

But to remind someone out there that you are not alone.

What happened to us was never our fault.

And healing, though not instant, is possible — when love is patient, and when we begin to forgive ourselves for surviving.

*This story may tell about the author she wants help anonymously*##Childhoodtrauma #Trauma #realstory #story #unspokenwords #MentalHealth

Hello everyone, I have been dealing with long Covid since February 2024. I have gotten better since but still have several health issues and bad flares almost daily.

I have been doing alot of reading on the connection between chronic stress, childhood trauma, and chronic illnesses like long Covid. I believe my long Covid symptoms got significantly worse after periods of chronic stress and trauma.

I know that my nervous system was hanging on by a thread before I had Covid. I believe I got long Covid partly due to the virus and due to previous trauma in childhood and adulthood.

What do you guys think of this idea? Do you think you were struggling emotionally or mentally prior to having long Covid? Did you have years of chronic stress and trauma as a child? I want to hear others experiences

#longcovid #Childhoodtrauma #ChronicIllness #Healing

How do I reconcile with the fact that I have not been loved my entire life but that I have been abused? Can abusers love? I doubt it…
What about me and my feelings?

I’m not a pawn to be used when others feel like it. I am a living breathing person and I have needs too. #Childhoodtrauma #PTSD #MentalHealth #NarcissisticPersonalityDisorder

Im here to prevent myself from ending it... hru?

#SuicidalThoughts #DerealizationDisorder #Depression #SocialAnxiety #attempts #Childhoodtrauma #Selfharm #Anxiety #PanicAttacks

#Depression #Childhoodtrauma #Sexabuse have no friends

Hey! I'm here because #MightyTogether #adultautism #Femaleautism #MentalHealth #Childhoodtrauma #Migraine #extremeanxiety