Trauma isn’t easy for anyone, no matter your age. But, for a child who is learning about the world and their place in it, any type of trauma can be especially jarring. So much so, that it can impact the way they see themselves and the world around them. 

Unfortunately, many children who go through a traumatic experience still see signs and symptoms of that situation years later. As a result, some adults deal with anxiety issues that stem from childhood trauma without even really realizing it. 

Children often don’t have any control over traumatic situations that might be surrounding them. Whether it’s a one-time thing or a continuous situation, they are often forced to “deal with it” at the time. 

If you’re struggling with anxiety now, though, there are things you can do to manage your symptoms and get to the bottom of your feelings. 

With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at how chronic anxiety and childhood trauma are connected. 

Childhood Coping Mechanisms

When children experience trauma at a young age, they have to find ways to cope with what they’re dealing with. Because they likely don’t have the resources for someone to help them, they do what they can to protect themselves. Many times, that involves distancing themselves emotionally from people. 

When a child deals with consistent trauma, such as abuse, they might learn to anticipate it in their lives. So, they will always be on edge, wondering when the next “bad” thing is going to happen. As you might imagine, it’s not hard for that to develop into full-blown anxiety as an adult. 

Anxiety is, at its very core, the feeling that something bad is lurking around the corner. You’re constantly on high alert and can’t find a moment of peace. Anxiety can take over your life and become debilitating. If you’ve carried over that feeling of being on edge from childhood, it can have a negative impact on your adult life. 

Adults who experienced trauma as a child might only feel anxious during stressful situations. Or, when they are triggered by something that reminds them of that traumatic event. It often causes them to feel helpless, even when they know they have the ability to do something. 

Treatment for Trauma-Related Anxiety

There are a variety of different treatment solutions for those struggling with anxiety brought on by childhood trauma. One of the first (and most important) factors in any treatment is getting to the root of your anxiety. 

It’s not uncommon for people to try to block the trauma of childhood out. Maybe you haven’t thought about it in years. Or, maybe you have purposefully tried to ignore it. But, if anxiety is showing up in your life now, it’s important to look at the life experiences you went through as a possible cause. 

Once you accept that underlying cause, you can learn how to work through it with the help of a therapist or counselor. 

Anxiety doesn’t typically go away on its own. But, the symptoms of your anxiety can be managed with treatment. You will learn how it affects you on a daily basis, and how you can take more control over those thoughts and symptoms. 

The truth is, it’s never easy to admit that you went through a traumatic experience as a child. That’s especially true if the trauma came in the form of abuse, or witnessing the abuse of someone else. 

But, you don’t have to live with the effects of that trauma forever. If you or someone you know experienced any type of trauma as a child and you’re worried it might be causing anxious thoughts and feelings today, you’re not alone. Please read more about trauma therapy and feel free to contact me for more information or to set up an appointment.