This blog is written by Noelle Shebani, who you can contact at: 085-8416110 to start counselling with.
As a psychotherapist, I work with many clients who present in therapy as adults with extreme anxiety, fatigue, sleep disturbances, irritable bowel issues, bouts of debilitating anxiety, low mood, and emotional distress.
In many cases, this can all be related to trauma, perhaps things they have never spoken about, even to their partners or friends. Sometimes, it causes issues in their relationships because their partners may notice them being unhappy and easily lashing out. Often, this behavior is rooted in deep feelings of pain and hurt from their childhood experiences they have never processed or felt it easier to bury.
It can be hard to believe that approximately one in four children in Ireland experience adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), which can include abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction. This reality leaves deep psychological scars that can persist into adulthood, often manifesting in unexpected and harmful ways. Understanding the importance of therapy in addressing these wounds is crucial for healing and personal growth.
The Lasting Effects of Childhood Trauma
Imagine a kind and gentle person who, as a child, experienced significant trauma. As she grew into adulthood, I saw her grappling with intense feelings of anger and frustration that seemed to come from nowhere. Small triggers, like a misplaced comment or a minor inconvenience, would send her from 0 to 10 in an instant.
Beneath the surface, however, lay a lifetime of unprocessed pain. As we explored her experiences together, it became clear that her unresolved trauma was like a pressure cooker, ready to erupt.
This dynamic highlights a crucial truth: hurt people hurt people. If we don’t confront our trauma, it can shape our reactions and relationships in harmful ways.
Why Therapy is Crucial for Healing
Therapy serves as a vital support system for individuals dealing with childhood trauma. Here’s how it makes a difference:
Creating a Safe Space
Therapy offers a non-judgmental environment where you can share your story, validate your feelings, and process your trauma. It’s a sanctuary for your voice.
1. Telling Your Story and Changing the Narrative Through therapy, you have the opportunity to express your experiences, allowing you to reshape the narrative of your life. This process is empowering and essential for healing.
2. Navigating Life's Challenges
Therapy helps you develop coping strategies, equipping you to face life’s hurdles without resorting to anger or maladaptive behaviors.
3. Building Healthy Relationships
Many individuals carry unresolved issues into their relationships. Therapy can enhance your self-awareness and help you rebuild trust that may have been lost early on.
4. Finding Resilience and Empowerment
Through therapy, you often discover your inner strengths, resilience, and a renewed sense of hope and purpose. It’s about reclaiming your narrative and stepping into your power.
If you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of childhood trauma in adulthood, I encourage you to seek support. Therapy can be a transformative journey toward healing, helping you break free from the heavy shame that no longer serves you.
As Bessel van der Kolk, the author of The Body Keeps the Score, beautifully states, “Trauma is not just about what happened to you, but what happened inside you as a result.”
This perspective is crucial for understanding that healing is possible and that you don’t have to face this journey alone.
If you’re experiencing the effects of unresolved trauma and are ready to start on your healing journey, please reach out to me. I can provide warm, compassionate and supportive space and together , we can work toward a healthier, happier, more empowered you.
Contact Noelle at 085-8416110
Or book through our booking form here
