Childhood influences our entire lives. Who you are today is largely shaped by your past. Trauma in childhood can still affect you as an adult. Dealing with childhood trauma isn’t easy. Revisiting things we’ve buried can be painful. But it’s the only way to free yourself from the past. You deserve to heal. If you’re reading this, it means you’re ready.
Here’s What to Do When Dealing With Childhood Trauma
Healing childhood trauma is highly personal. Everyone’s story is different. Dealing with it is less about “getting over it.” It’s more of understanding that your body still holds it. That it still affects your mind. Your spirit. Healing starts with self-compassion. Here are some gentle ways to begin confronting your past.
Accept that the Past Has Affected You
First things first. Acknowledge that the past affected you. Maybe you think it was a long time ago, so it doesn’t matter anymore. This is a survival technique. Maybe it helped in the past. But dealing with childhood trauma involves accepting what happened. Which can be hard. You might have memories you’ve buried for years. But your body remembers. Even when your mind tries to forget.
Something happens when you clearly look at your past. Your inner child feels seen. Validated. This alone can start to soften the grip of the past. There’s so much power in simply acknowledging your past trauma. Yes, it’s painful at first. But the only way out is through. You have to feel to heal.
Label Your Feelings
Emotions can feel messy. Dark. Confusing. Overwhelming. Especially when connected to early experiences. Labeling these feelings helps compartmentalize memories. This allows you to make sense of your emotions. It could be sadness. Anger. Fear. Grief. Naming how you feel helps you process how you feel. Helps you figure out what to do next. If you’re angry, say so! It seems simple. But naming your emotions gives them permission to move. It’s a small act of self-honesty. That offers a huge opportunity for emotional regulation. For a deeper understanding of how you truly feel.
Practice Being in the Present Moment
Childhood trauma can keep you stuck. Thinking about the past. Over and over. It can become like a feedback loop. Where you’re so busy thinking about the past that you’re never really in the present moment. This makes it easier to become triggered. To live in a state of fear. Feel like you’re always on high alert. One of the most powerful ways to return to the present is through somatic nervous system healing.
At Twin Waves Wellness Center, we offer what’s known as Somato Respiratory Integration (SRI). It’s a set of breathing exercises that involves the breath and body. SRI helps regulate the nervous system. Replaces mental chaos with calm. Many experience huge emotional breakthroughs. Emotions attached to past trauma begin to move. Which helps you move away from the past and into the present moment. This is where you find your power.
Release Physical Tension
Trauma doesn’t just live in the mind. It lives in the body. Say something happens we don’t want to deal with. Instead of addressing these emotions, we bury them. It’s a lot easier than being bombarded by negative thoughts. But this takes a toll. Causes the nervous system to store protective patterns of tension. This can lead to back pain. Muscle tension. Feeling stuck. Fatigue. Burnout. Stress. Anxiety.
Releasing physical tension helps release the emotions attached to it. Dr. Suzanna and I specialize in holistic chiropractic care called Network Spinal. This network chiropractic practice helps release stored tension. There’s no cracking or popping. It involves gentle touches along the spine. This moves emotional energy stored in the body as tension. Helps the nervous system relax. When tension is released from the body, emotions start to shift. You feel lighter. Calmer. More connected.
Allow Yourself to Release Emotions
Dealing with childhood trauma is emotional. Let your emotions surface. It’s okay to cry. Laugh. Scream. Shake. It’s all part of the process. Emotions connected to childhood trauma are often held within for years. Decades maybe. As holistic chiropractors, we see it all the time. Many of our clients experience an emotional release during network spinal or SRI. It’s just the body finally feeling safe enough to let go. Emotional release is simply your nervous system rebalancing. Which is another step towards freedom. From your past trauma. And all the emotions tied to it.
Reconnect With Your Physical Body
Ever feel disconnected from your body? It’s really common with childhood trauma. It can make you feel numb. Tense. Out of touch physically. Reconnecting with your body is part of dealing with childhood trauma. It takes time. And the willingness to be gentle with yourself. Don’t underestimate the power of simple self-care. It’s incredibly powerful.
Consider regular massages. Acupuncture. Gentle yoga. Walking. Hiking. Going on a bike ride. All will help you return to your body. Let you know it’s a safe place to be. I like to remind my clients that the body is the bridge between the past and present. Reconnect with it, and you become more grounded. Rebuild trust for life.
Seek Support
Healing childhood trauma is deeply personal. But you don’t have to go at it alone. Talking about it helps release it. Maybe it’s with a trusted friend. You might prefer professional support. Either way can give you a different perspective. Help with a new understanding of your experience. It’s incredibly empowering. Getting support for dealing with childhood trauma takes strength. Which you have. Or you wouldn’t decide to heal the past. You’d stay stuck in it, instead.
Creating Safety in the Present Moment
Your past happened. But you’re still creating the present. Dealing with childhood trauma allows you to live the life you want. No more being a victim of events out of your control. That happened when you were young. You deserve to feel safe. At home in your body. Be patient with the process. Take healing moment by moment. Some days will feel effortless. Others not so much. Both are part of the process. Remember this. You are loved. Supported. And capable of deep transformation.