Trauma comes back as a reaction, not a memory.
—Bessel van der Kolk
PTSD
How harmful is childhood trauma? Very. You cannot bury PTSD; ignore PTSD; pray away PTSD. It is real. The trauma caused by childhood neglect, sexual or domestic abuse and war wreaks havoc in our bodies, says Bessel van der Kolk.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event.
It is natural to feel afraid during and after a traumatic situation. Fear triggers many split-second changes in the body to help defend against danger or to avoid it. This “fight-or-flight” response is a typical reaction meant to protect a person from harm. Nearly everyone will experience a range of reactions after trauma, yet most people recover from initial symptoms naturally. Those who continue to experience problems may be diagnosed with PTSD. People who have PTSD may feel stressed or frightened, even when they are not in danger.
—National Institute of Mental Health
- Covert Incest
A healthy family system has clear separation between adults and children.” When there is no separation, an emotionally toxic relationship forms. —Dr. Patricia Love Emotional/Covert… Read more: Covert Incest - Dealing with PTSD
When you shut down emotion, you’re also affecting your nervous system. So the repression of emotion, which is the survival strategy, then becomes a source… Read more: Dealing with PTSD - Don’t Minimize Your Abuse
Standing there was my brother with one of my mother’s cooking pots sitting on our picnic table. It was full of water. My brother was… Read more: Don’t Minimize Your Abuse - How Childhood Trauma Can Make You Sick
If you don’t know how to say no, your body will say it for you through physical illnesses. —Dr. Gabor Maté The long-term effects of… Read more: How Childhood Trauma Can Make You Sick - Sibling Bullying
She wrote me that she felt terrorized. She travelled in the car – her bully was there. She ate at the kitchen table – her… Read more: Sibling Bullying - The Silent Treatment is Cruel
I tried to explain how hurt I was. Just like when we were kids, I was trying to get my mother to hear me. She… Read more: The Silent Treatment is Cruel - Tickle Torture
“TICKLE TORTURE!” my brother screamed. He held me down. I struggled to get away. “Stop!” “Tickle torture,” he laughed. He held down both my arms… Read more: Tickle Torture - What is Complex PTSD?
“Often with PTSD there is the traumatic event; perhaps someone was in the war or had a car accident,” she explained. “With Complex PTSD, it’s… Read more: What is Complex PTSD?
