Grandpa playing with a kid, depicting managing unresolved childhood trauma | Photo by RDNE Stock project
I’m glad to know that you’ve completely healed from your painful past. But to those who are still in the process of managing unresolved childhood trauma, I am here to take the journey with you. Allow me to accompany you in navigating the ways on how to thrive after childhood trauma.
I wrote the book, “DRY YOUR EYES, GIRL: From Surviving to Thriving After Childhood Sexual Abuse” to guide you on your journey to healing with the grace of Jesus Christ. Like you, I have fallen quite a few times. But Jesus had always been there to pick me up. I’m hoping you could use my book to find the solutions you need to gain freedom and healing in your life.
Understanding the Impact of Unresolved Trauma
If you were a victim of neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, or bullying when you were a child, the traumatic experiences you had cast a long shadow over your adult life. When unresolved, your trauma manifests in many different ways. The signs of unresolved childhood trauma in adults have emotional, physical, and cognitive impacts. Let’s delve into some of them.
Emotional Impact
The first key approach to managing unresolved childhood trauma is to reevaluate your emotional health. A common, tell-tale sign of an unresolved childhood trauma is heightened anxiety and fear. Getting extremely anxious to the point that you constantly worry or feel uneasy, even in seemingly harmless situations, is a sign that your trauma has crept into your emotional health. In addition to constant anxiety, trauma can also conjure feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness. Having unresolved childhood trauma may make it difficult for you to experience joy and pleasure.
Physical Impact
Don’t underestimate emotional health problems because they can also negatively impact your physical health. In fact, rapid heartbeat, sweating, and worse physical reactions are linked to PTSD development. It happens because the body holds onto physical tension as a way to cope with emotional pain. If not holding grudges, some result in substance abuse to numb away the pain, which can lead to further health complications.
Cognitive Impact
Especially when you’re still in the process of managing unresolved childhood trauma, you may find it difficult to concentrate on tasks. Have you noticed any decrease in your academic performance or daily life productivity? If not concentration, then maybe your trauma distorts your thinking patterns. Having an unresolved childhood trauma will leave you catastrophizing, which can contribute to anxiety and low self-esteem.
Strategies for Managing Unresolved Childhood Trauma
Healing from childhood trauma is a long process—it’s a journey you have to take with patience and persistence. Sometimes, you may not even heal from it completely. The negative effects may continue to manifest even when you’ve completely forgiven your past. But there are approaches to consider, which might work for you.
As an adult managing unresolved childhood trauma, you can consider the following:
Seek Professional Help
The mental health sector is continuously developing progressive, holistic, and personalized approaches to addressing unresolved childhood trauma for both kids and adults. Right now, the industry gives you research- and evidence-based options, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Psychodynamic Therapy, and more.
Seek Supportive Network
We’re on this journey together. You can join our community founded by the loving grace of Jesus. Like you, we have once lost our voices as well. We’ve been through the darkest moments of life, a dark prism trapping us in a cycle of limiting and harmful patterns toward ourselves and others. But Jesus beckoned us. We heeded and turned to Him. Jesus became our safe space and a source of strength and wisdom to forgive and let go of our painful past.
As we have found our safe space in Him, so shall we guide you to a place where you can share your story. In our community, your voice is heard and important. May you have the courage to tell us your story and be an inspiration for others.
You’re Not Alone
You can get a copy of my book on Amazon. I am excited for you to experience the love of Jesus as you read my book and find forgiveness and transformation. May “DRY YOUR EYES, GIRL” help you heal and move forward while you obtain a whole, healthy relationship with God, yourself, and other people you feel safe with.
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