Childhood trauma can increase the risk and likelihood of developing anxiety, panic disorders, and related symptoms. The best way to deal with feelings of anxiety and anxiety disorders that come from childhood trauma is to face the trauma head-on.
One thing to remember is that anxiety is not a rare condition. Everyone experiences some level of anxiety at one time or another. It is a natural human response to situations that make us uncomfortable. However, an anxiety condition will involve these symptoms occurring on a regular basis.
Anxiety presents itself through a variety of thoughts and physical conditions. Often, people with an anxiety condition will have intense and persistent worry about everyday situations. These thoughts are often accompanied by:
- Faster heart rate
- Intense breathing
- Sweating
- Crying
- Nausea
The Lasting Effects of Trauma
Anxiety never exists in a vacuum. There is always a cause behind it, whether it be something recent or from the past. The idea of previous trauma affecting your mental and emotional health years later may seem strange. However, we are shaped by both the good and bad of our childhoods. Even if we had an ideal upbringing, we are often victims of the smaller traumatic moments.
For those with traumatic childhoods, there are a variety of ways that these experiences stay with us. There are a variety of traumas we bring with us:
- Physical abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Neglect
- Substance abuse
- Bullying
- Medical Trauma
These are only a few of the possible traumas. The fact is that each of these is far more nuanced, and there are others that may be specific to you and your childhood.
Why Childhood Trauma Persists Into Adulthood
With all this being said, the fact that childhood trauma stays with us is a very known phenomenon. Many people struggle with anxiety without realizing where it comes from. Even those who understand where the trauma comes from may not be ready to deal with it.
Often, the reason childhood trauma does not go away is that it has been suppressed, thus turning into an anxiety disorder. In general, people do not want to deal with painful situations. This is a universal truth about humanity. But when we choose to bury our problems away, it ends up hurting us in the long run.
People are formed by their childhoods. The good and the bad. Consider the people we are surrounded by as children:
- Family
- Friends
- Educators
- Strangers
It is unfortunate, but we can be hurt by people in any of these groups. Sometimes by more than one. When this happens, we build distrust. This may be a distrust of friends, or it may be of the situation that our friends put us in. There may have been trauma in school, which leads to people being distrustful of how they look at their children’s teachers.
We never know exactly where these traumas will rear their heads. It is important to know that when we do start to explore an issue like anxiety, it will most likely involve something from our past.
How The Phoenix Recovery Center Can Help
We at The Phoenix Recovery Center understand how hard it can be to confront your past. Many people need help with the process. At our facility, we are proud to offer qualified medical staff that is here to find the best path for your care. Whether you require group therapy, individual therapy, or a full inpatient program, we are equipped to help.
When you put yourself in our care, you will be a partner in your treatment program. Your initial consult will establish where you are and what we can do to help you. Once this has been determined, we will make sure you understand your options and that you feel comfortable with what we are offering.
Trauma is never an easy concept to deal with. However, with the right assistance, you will find yourself in a much better place than you have been. The Phoenix Recovery Center is your first step to better mental health. When you partner with us, you will learn the best ways to help yourself. Call us today at (801) 438-3185 to get started.
