Coping With Difficult Childhoods
A Pathway to Healing
Does this scenario sound familiar?
You just know they are going to be upset, that is unless you can get everything just so. You deny your needs to make sure they are happy, then everything will be ok. Or will it?
You scan your environment over and over, like the radar on TV, looking for the threat that a storm is coming. You read their mood, then you feel a little panic wondering how bad the storm will be tonight? Were they drinking again? Bad day at work? Now you must be hypervigilant to make sure peace is kept.
You sit alone, you feel so small and the world feels so big. You try to cry out for help, for someone to see you, to know you, to need you.
The longing for connection is so deep it feels like there is no bottom. You wait, clinging to the hope you will be seen, understood, loved.
This is the pain and impact of having a difficult childhood.
If you’re on this page, chances are you've been a caretaker most of your life, tending to others' needs while sidelining your own.
You might feel protective of your parents, not wanting to blame them for your problems.
Truth is, your parents probably only repeated what was modeled for them; they may have done the best they could with the life experiences they had.
We are not here to blame anyone, but instead to identify patterns in your life that have contributed to your current experiences and use that information to work toward healing.
There is hope. I see you, I understand, I want to help you on your journey toward health.
It starts with accepting the past.
Accepting your experiences for what they are is crucial for your starting on a journey of healing. This may have looked like physical, emotional or sexual abuse, neglect, the loss of a parent, witnessing violence, or having a close family member who suffers from a mental illness or other challenges.
By downplaying the magnitude of your traumatic experience or denying its occurrence, you run the risk of internalizing your pain.
As time passes, these suppressed emotions manifest in various ways.
You may feel shame, guilt, self hatred, have trust issues, experience emotional outbursts, struggle with people-pleasing, or partake in self destructive behaviors.
By recognizing and accepting that you have childhood trauma, you can begin to reclaim control of your life.
Freedom from old shackles
As you progress through your therapy journey, it is possible to begin to feel a newfound freedom to pursue your life's goals and ambitions without feeling held back.
Some of the clients I have worked with report:
Feeling enhanced emotional resilience, able to face life’s ups and downs with a balanced and grounded perspective.
Having empowered relationships, the ability to form and sustain fulfilling relationships without the constant people pleasing.
A renewed sense of self, with a more positive self image and confident approach to life.
You Don't Have to Carry the Burden Alone
Are you ready to lay down the weight of your difficult childhood and take steps toward a more fulfilling life?
I’m here to guide and support you on your healing journey. Let's talk.
Click below to contact me. I look forward to meeting you.