While our childhood shapes who we become as an adult, we also have the ability to take control about who we want to be. That often means addressing the internal issues that stem from your childhood experiences, particularly the traumatic events or circumstances, and learning how to heal from them.

Childhood trauma can mean many different things. It can mean that your family experienced extreme poverty that resulted in unsafe living conditions. It can also mean witnessing a traumatic event, such as domestic abuse, that affected your ability to trust others. Regardless of the type or severity of the trauma, every adult can take control of their healing journey to work toward a fulfilling life. It’s never too late.

We’ll talk about how you can heal from childhood trauma. We’ll also discuss how Lightfully can help.

6 ways that can help you heal from childhood trauma

Childhood trauma can have an effect on your emotional, physical, spiritual and mental health well into your adulthood. It can lead to mental health conditions that impact your overall quality of life, including post-traumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder. 

Whether you have a diagnosable condition or you have aspects of yourself that you struggle to improve due to childhood experiences, it’s possible to move along your healing journey. With the right steps, you can become the best possible version of yourself.

Here are six ways adults can take control of their healing journey following childhood trauma:

• Learn your triggers — If you have childhood trauma, it’s likely that there are situations, places, sounds and topics that remind you of it. A trigger refers to any type of stimulus that causes negative thoughts or emotions related to your trauma. For example, if you were in a car accident when you were a child, the sound of screeching tires may be triggering. By learning about your triggers, you can learn how to manage your reactions and make different choices when necessary.
• Practice self-compassion — You are more than your trauma. However, that’s not always easy to believe when the effects of your childhood trauma interfere with your quality of life and mental health. It’s important to be kind to yourself. While we tend to be our own harshest critics, practicing self-compassion can help you accept your own emotions and thoughts without judgment. Your feelings are valid, and it’s important to accept them for a strong sense of self.
• Find what makes you happy — It’s not always easy to stay optimistic. You may struggle to find the positives in life when you’re having persistent struggles linked to trauma. Even so, one of the most essential parts of a healing journey is self-care and finding joy. Prioritize your own mental health with self-care, such as spending time in nature and practicing mindfulness. It can help improve your self-esteem and gain control over your emotions. This also means taking time to enjoy things that make you happy, such as a hobby.
• Talk to your family members — Whether you all experienced it together or there were specific members who contributed to the experience, it’s likely that you have family that was present during the traumatic time. Have an open and honest discussion about the trauma and how you believe it has impacted you as an adult. You can find comfort and support in others close to you while seeing how their perspective of the trauma may have been different. It’s important to approach these conversations with care and possibly under the guidance of a therapist, especially if family dynamics are complicated, or if the family members were part of the traumatic experiences.
• Find a support group — Unfortunately, childhood trauma is relatively common, though the severity can vary. More than 25% of children in the U.S. experience or witness a traumatic event by the age of 4. That also means that there are plenty of other adults who are also on their healing journey. Find a support group, such as our free virtual group, to gain comfort and validation from people who can understand how you’re feeling. You can also learn what healing strategies have been effective for others.

• Therapy — Even if you don’t have a diagnosable mental health condition linked to your childhood trauma, therapy can play a significant role in your healing journey. A psychotherapist can help you process your emotions about the trauma and how it has affected you as an adult. They can also help you adjust your perspective on the experience and learn coping mechanisms to handle triggers.

Lightfully can help adults heal from their childhood trauma

Healing from your childhood trauma means learning how to take control of the impact. For some people, childhood trauma has caused them to have trust issues, irrational fears and difficulty setting boundaries. For others, it has resulted in mental health conditions that interfere with their productivity, personal relationships and goal setting. But no matter how it has impacted you, it’s important to learn how to heal from childhood trauma with the right support and skills.

At Lightfully, we use our Precision Care Model to design a personalized treatment plan that will help you as a whole person, not just your trauma. When you’re struggling to move along your healing journey, we offer four levels of care that can help: Residential Treatment (RTC), Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (vIOP), Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP).

We use evidence-based, clearly defined, data-driven and whole-person-centered care provided by compassionate experts.

Change is possible. When you’re ready to take the first step on your healing journey from childhood trauma, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you.