How Childhood Trauma Affects Adults and How Therapy Can Help
- Matthew Kelley
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Childhood is meant to be a time of safety, learning, and connection. But for many adults, the early years were marked by experiences that left deep emotional scars such as neglect, emotional abuse, or unpredictable family dynamics. These experiences, often called childhood trauma, can shape the way people see themselves, others, and the world.
If you’ve ever struggled with low self-esteem, chronic anxiety, depression, or difficulties in relationships, it’s possible that the roots trace back to early experiences. The good news? Therapy can help you understand and heal from childhood trauma, creating space for growth, resilience, and healthier patterns.
Today we’ll explore the long-term effects of childhood trauma and how psychotherapy can support the healing process.
What Is Childhood Trauma?
Childhood trauma refers to any distressing experience that overwhelms a child’s ability to cope. This may include:
Emotional or physical neglect
Emotional, physical, or sexual abuse
Bullying or social exclusion
Growing up in a home with substance use, mental illness, or domestic violence
Divorce or separation without proper support
Loss of a parent or caregiver
Children are especially vulnerable because their brains are still developing. When a child doesn’t have the emotional or physical safety, support, or nurturing they need, they often internalize painful messages about themselves and the world.
Why Many People Overlook Childhood Trauma
It’s common for adults to question whether their experiences "count" as trauma. You may think, "Other people had it worse", or "That was a long time ago... shouldn’t I be over it by now?" But trauma isn’t about comparing experiences; it’s about how those experiences impacted you. Even subtle forms of neglect or criticism can leave lasting emotional wounds.
Recognizing your pain doesn’t mean blaming others or dwelling on the past. It means giving yourself permission to heal.
The Long Term Effects of Childhood Trauma
Unfortunately, the effects of childhood trauma don’t disappear once we reach adulthood. Instead, they often show up in subtle and sometimes overwhelming ways throughout life.
1. Low Self-Esteem and Negative Self-Beliefs
Many adults who experienced childhood trauma grow up believing they are "not good enough", "unlovable", or "a burden". These beliefs may have started as survival strategies, helping children make sense of painful situations, but in adulthood, they keep people stuck in cycles of self-doubt.
2. Anxiety and Depression
Living in an unpredictable or unsafe environment can cause the nervous system to stay on high alert, or in a constant state of "fight or flight". As adults, this may translate into chronic anxiety, panic attacks, or difficulty relaxing. Others may experience depression, feeling weighed down by hopelessness or emotional numbness. Anger is another way that underlying anxiety may show up (i.e. the "fight" in "fight or flight").
3. Difficulty in Relationships
Early trauma often disrupts a person’s ability to trust. Adults may find themselves pulling away from intimacy, fearing abandonment, or becoming overly dependent on partners and friends. These patterns are rooted in what therapists call "attachment wounds".
4. Struggles with Emotional Regulation
If a child never learned how to safely express and soothe their emotions, the stresses of adulthood may feel overwhelming. Emotional triggers can cause outbursts, shutdowns, or intense shame.
5. Physical Health Concerns
Research shows that unresolved childhood trauma is linked to physical health problems such as chronic pain, autoimmune conditions, and cardiovascular issues. The body truly holds on to these early experiences.
Why Therapy Works for Childhood Trauma
Healing from childhood trauma isn’t about erasing the past; it’s about changing the way it affects you now. Therapy offers a safe and supportive space to untangle old wounds and build new skills that help you move forward.
In therapy, you can expect support in areas like:
Making sense of the past: Understanding how your early experiences shaped your self-esteem, relationships, and emotional patterns.
Finding healthier ways to cope: Learning practical strategies to manage stress, calm your body, and feel more in control.
Rebuilding confidence and self-worth: Challenging the old, painful messages you may still carry and replacing them with more compassionate perspectives.
Improving relationships: Discovering new ways of connecting with others that feel safer, healthier, and more fulfilling.
Creating hope for the future: Therapy helps you imagine and move toward the kind of life you want now, regardless of what the past looked like.
Signs It Might Be Time to Seek Therapy
You may benefit from working with a therapist if you:
Struggle with anxiety, depression, or frequent emotional overwhelm
Find yourself repeating unhealthy relationship patterns
Have persistent feelings of shame or self-criticism
Feel stuck in the past or triggered by memories
Want to better understand how your childhood experiences shaped you
Healing Is Possible
It’s important to remember that healing from childhood trauma is not about forgetting what happened. Instead, it’s about reclaiming your power in the present. With the right support, you can learn to hold compassion for your younger self, break free from painful patterns, and build a life that feels more balanced, connected, and fulfilling.
Therapy for Childhood Trauma in Hamilton, ON
Ready to start your therapy journey?
If parts of this blog resonated with you, know that you don’t have to carry the weight of childhood trauma alone. Therapy offers a safe, supportive space to work through the past and create meaningful change in your life.
At Blue Hen Psychotherapy, I specialize in helping adults navigate the lasting impact of childhood experiences, reduce anxiety and depression, and build healthier self-esteem and relationships.
If you’re ready to take the next step, I invite you to reach out today. Together, we can begin the process of healing and growth.
