4 Ways to Keep Your Childhood Trauma from Affecting Your Adult Relationships
Category: Misc.
If you’re struggling to move forward, know you’re not alone, and read on for four crucial ways to keep childhood trauma from affecting your adult relationships.
Topic Of Discussion
For most people, childhood trauma influences the way we navigate our adult relationships. Whether via fear of abandonment, tendencies to people-please, or trust issues, the echoes of past experiences can make forming healthy, fulfilling connections difficult.
If you’re struggling to move forward, know you’re not alone, and read on for four crucial ways to keep childhood trauma from affecting your adult relationships:
Set healthy boundaries
If you find yourself overextending, feeling resentful, or struggling to say “no,” you might need to practice boundary-setting. Start by identifying your limits. What depletes you? What makes you feel respected? By communicating these boundaries to your partner, friends, and family, you can actually strengthen relationships. Remember: boundary setting isn’t about pushing people away; it’s about creating a safe space for yourself within your relationships.
Practice self-care
Self-care can involve anything from getting enough sleep and eating healthy, to engaging in hobbies that spark your joy such as spending time in nature or playing sports. The more you prioritize your own well-being, the less likely you are to be triggered by past trauma in your relationships, and this will increase your capacity to set boundaries and build connections.
Be mindful of your emotions
When you feel an intense emotion surfacing in a relationship, take a pause. Ask yourself: “Is this feeling truly about the present situation, or is it being amplified by something from my past?” Practicing techniques like breathing exercises or journaling can help you to regulate your emotions and respond thoughtfully, rather than impulsively.
Seek professional help
Childhood trauma is an obstacle for most adults, even adults who experienced a mostly happy childhood. If you’re struggling, our therapists at Tri-Star Counseling are ready to help with your specific situation and set you on a path to the kind of healthy, adult relationships you’re seeking.
