Signs Of Attachment Trauma in Adults
"What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas."
This is a common saying to note that your secrets will be safe. In reality, what happens anywhere never truly stays there. Whether you're the person to admit it or a friend or family member, your actions will usually catch up with you.
The same can be said about your past in general. Your past is what makes you into the person you are today. Without it, who would you be? Where would you be? Each and every moment and interaction led you to this exact moment.
But what if you're experiencing things in your adult life that you're starting to question if it was caused during your childhood. Attachment trauma is real, and it's not something that only children or young adults will face. If you have unprocessed trauma, it can start to creep into your daily life and routine.
Let's learn more about the signs of attachment trauma in adults.
Chronic Pain
You may experience aches and pains due to growing older. Chronic pain is something that is likely to develop if you experience trauma in your early life. Chronic pain goes beyond the normal aches and pains you're likely to experience with age. These are some of the most common signs and symptoms that someone who experienced attachment trauma may experience:
Back pain
Chest pain
Chronic fatigue
Digestive issues
Fibromyalgia
Headaches
Insomnia
Muscle aches and pains
Mental Health Issues
Physical pain isn't the only negative effect of attachment trauma. Mental health problems are also a sign of attachment trauma. People who experienced attachment trauma are more likely to develop the following mental health disorders:
Anxiety
Bipolar disorder
Borderline personality disorder
Depression
Dissociative disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Stress
Low Self-Esteem
Experiencing a form of attachment trauma can lead to negative views of oneself. No matter how long a person experiences attachment trauma, it can have negative, long-lasting effects on an individual. They may experience low self-esteem compared to the average person. They may even experience feelings of unworthiness or that they don't deserve the care, love, or support of others.
Relationship Problems
Attachment trauma isn't something that happens overnight. That means that the recovery process won't happen overnight either. When someone experiences attachment trauma, the trauma can be carried with them even into their adult life. They may have residual feelings of shame or self-esteem issues from situations they experienced in their childhood. These feelings can carry with them when they're forming relationships as an adult.
This means they may gravitate towards negative relationships because it feels familiar to them. The relationships they end up in may be negative, abusive, or neglectful. They will dismiss their own wants, needs, and boundaries to meet the needs of the other person in the relationship. They may even struggle to even form positive or healthy relationships due to not trusting others, commitment issues, difficulty communicating, and fear of intimacy or getting to close to someone else.
How to Heal
If you're struggling with attachment trauma, you're not alone. Everyone's past makes them into the person they are today. That being said, your attachment trauma doesn't define you. You are not your attachment trauma. Even if the attachment trauma is something you've been holding onto for years, help is available to you. All you have to do is ask for it.
Working with a therapist can provide a safe space and secure environment to help you work through those painful memories, thoughts, emotions, and feelings. Reach out to us today if you're interested in learning more about trauma therapy.
Sea Glass Counseling and Consultation is an EMDR therapy practice in Dublin, Ohio. Our compassionate, skilled therapists use evidence-based techniques grounded in the neurobiology of stress, trauma, and relationships to make sure your treatment is personalized and effective. Sea Glass therapists provide telehealth counseling in Ohio for individuals and couples. We’re best known for providing Intensive EMDR therapy, anxiety treatment, and sex therapy for Christians. Interested in working together? Contact us today to get started with a Certified EMDR therapist in Ohio.