Our first instinct is to protect our young ones and guide them to adulthood without influence from outside the usual and extensive parenting perimeter. But what happens when trauma enters their lives? How do we proceed? Children who have experienced various traumatic occurrences that disrupted their childhood development can later be diagnosed with developmental trauma disorder (DTD). Moving forward with untreated emotional and psychological traumas rooted in childhood can lead to complex trauma in adulthood. This means that the cumulative exposure to repeated traumatic experiences can cause adults to spiral into various mental health conditions. But let’s focus on the source of the issue.
What is developmental wounding?
Many children endure life-altering incidents from single encounters or ongoing confrontations. Over time, these symptoms of childhood trauma can become emotional scars in adulthood, even DTD. Developmental wounding comprises differing experiences that affect normal childhood development. Different types of experiences like physical, emotional or sexual abuse, bullying, family violence or parental mental health issues can lead to bouts of anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The consequences of these emotional triggers can be disabling if not treated. They can inevitably start to reflect within difficulties in relationships, low self-esteem, difficulty with attachment and other mental health challenges.
Understanding the intricacies of developmental wounding can help to pinpoint it early. Here are 3 perspectives on understanding developmental wounding through a trauma-informed lens.
- Recognizing its impact: Developmental wounds can have an unfavourable impact on people’s coping mechanisms and beliefs, and influence how they maintain safe and secure attachments. Through a trauma-informed lens, care would fall on more of a compassionate side. Recognizing these impacts instead of seeing them as unhealthy allows for them to be treated as behavioural responses to trauma rather than a personal shortcoming.
- The role of safety and trust: Creating safe spaces is vital to one’s care. Safety and trust are conducive to treating developmental wounding. Providing environments where people feel safe and seen permits individuals to share traumatic experiences without fear and judgment.
- Addressing the body and mind connection: The body, mind and soul are known as a trifecta. But the disconnection between the body and dormant emotions results in developmental wounding. Through a trauma-informed lens, we look to reconnect people with their physical selves. Encouraging body awareness practices like mindfulness and somatic therapies helps to foster and promote healing on an emotional level.
Strategies for Healing from Developmental Wounding
The optimal word is healing. Individuals should give themselves compassion to work through symptoms of childhood trauma in adulthood. To move forward from adverse childhood experiences, it’s imperative to give yourself grace and find a safe space that makes you feel comfortable in sharing your trauma. Here are a few strategies to keep in mind when healing from developmental wounding:
- Therapeutic Support: Therapeutic support can reduce the impact of symptoms and increase self-confidence. Working at your own pace, you will realize and work through emotions and experiences. Alongside a trauma-informed professional who understands individual needs, an environment where therapies such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), somatic experiencing and attachment-based therapies can be created. Having the right support can make all the difference for your healing journey.
- Self-Compassion: Developmental wounding is no one’s fault. Being aware of your pain and how you deal with it is a difficult process. However, learning kindness and acceptance of oneself can improve resilience and well-being. Don’t be harsh on yourself. Creating a positive influence from within helps with being mindful and keeps feelings balanced.
- Building Supportive Relationships: Nourishment comes in many forms. Having healthy relationships that foster trust and communication is essential to healing. Compassionate individuals will have mutual respect, understand boundaries and will be open to helping you heal the best way possible.
Even though dealing with complex trauma will be a journey, it doesn’t have to be a demanding and rigid one. At Ancestral Memory Therapy, we’re here to assist with your healing and exploration every step of the way.
