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Want to feel calmer, healthier and more in control of your life?
When most people imagine what a healthy lifestyle looks like they think gym memberships, green smoothies and 8x of sleep. All of those things are important. However there is one component that is often overlooked.....
Your emotional past.
Here's the problem:
Past hurts never truly go away just because you choose to forget about them. Long ago heartaches can silently affect how you sleep, eat, work and love right now. And for the most part, you won't even realize it.
The good news?
You can heal. It's one of the best investments you can make towards your long-term health.
Here's everything you need to know...
Inside this guide:
How To Spot Unresolved Childhood Trauma
Why Difficult Experiences Stick Around
Why Healing Belongs In A Healthy Lifestyle
5x Simple Ways To Start Healing Today
How To Spot Unresolved Childhood Trauma
Trauma that goes unresolved isn't always obvious. Flashbacks and nightmares aren't always the case. Sometimes it can be a lot quieter than that.
Common signs include:
Feeling anxious or "on edge" for no clear reason
Struggling to trust people or keep close relationships
Overreacting to small problems (then feeling bad about it later)
Being very hard on yourself
Sound familiar?
If you recognize some of these, it may be beneficial to take a unresolved childhood trauma quiz. They're short tests that ask you basic questions about how you feel, what you do, and what you remember from childhood. They help you identify underlying themes and illustrate how unresolved childhood trauma can manifest in your everyday life. When you know what to look for, it's easier to learn how to process trauma in a healthy way rather than suppress it.
Remember: A positive childhood trauma test result is not a diagnosis. It simply indicates that further discussion may be beneficial. If you scored high and are concerned, talk to a qualified mental health professional who can direct you.
Why Difficult Experiences Stick Around
Tough experiences are far more common than most people realise.
The World Health Organization estimates that nearly 70% of individuals worldwide will experience a traumatic event during their lives. Events such as car crashes, bereavement, abuse or natural calamities.
And childhood is where a lot of it starts.
Researchers recruited adults for one massive CDC study and discovered that 63.9% of US adults experienced at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE). ACEs refer to traumatic events occurring before age 18 such as abuse, neglect, or growing up in a highly stressful household.
Think about that for a second...
Yeah, pretty much 2 out of 3 adults are walking around with childhood baggage they may never have resolved.
Here's why it matters: When a child experiences chronic stress their brain becomes wired to be hyper vigilant. That was adaptive for them at the time. It protected them. As adults, that alarm can continue to sound well past danger.
Why Healing Belongs In A Healthy Lifestyle
Here's something most people don't consider...
Mind and body are not two different entities. They are one unit. If one is suffering, the other suffers with it.
The CDC connects childhood trauma to heart disease, depression and substance abuse later in life. Sure you can eat all the kale your heart desires... but if you haven't dealt with years of built-up stress your body will suffer anyways.
Healing from difficult experiences helps you:
Sleep better: If your brain isn't running on high alert, it's easier to relax at night and wake up refreshed.
Develop healthier connections: You cease operating on auto-pilot and begin relating to others authentically.
Decrease stress: Avoid emotional cravings, emotional eating and have more energy for what is important to you.
Healing = Better physical and mental health.
It really is that simple.
5x Simple Ways To Start Healing Today
Recovery is a journey. But journeys begin with a single step. Make that step today. Browse through the suggestions below, choose one or two that appeal to you and take action now.
Talk To A Professional
Seeking therapy. This is the best step you can take. A professional can help you work through what occurred, why you continue to feel the way you do and how to heal. Trauma focused therapy and EMDR are just 2 examples that have worked for so many.
Don't wait until things get "bad enough". You deserve support right now.
Write It Down
Journaling is easy, free, and more helpful than you'd think. Take 10 minutes a day to write down how you feel. Don't worry about proper grammar. Just get it all out on paper.
Over time, you'll start to notice patterns. And patterns are where healing begins.
Move Your Body
Exercise is great for your heart. It also allows your body to let go of pent-up stress. Walking, yoga, swimming or dancing around the kitchen -- whatever works!
Move how YOU like. Just don't make it feel like torture.
Build A Support Network
Trying to heal by yourself is very difficult. Surround yourself with people who allow you to feel safe and accepted. Whether that be friends, family or a local support group.
Don't have someone? No problem. Begin with one. One person that you trust can change your world.
Practise Self-Compassion
And here's the biggie...
The biggest critics of themselves are those who hold onto old pain. They take responsibility for things they weren't responsible for at all.
Talk to yourself like you would a good friend. Be patient. Be kind. Recovery is not linear and bad days don't mean you're losing.
The Bottom Line
Repairing from negative experiences isn't optional -- it's part of what it means to live a truly healthy life. You cannot out-work or out-eat old pain. Eventually, it must be processed.
To quickly recap:
Difficult experiences are extremely common
Unresolved trauma can affect your sleep, relationships and physical health
The Unresolved Childhood Trauma Test is an uncomplicated assessment that will help you gauge where you stand.
Professional support, journaling, movement and self-compassion all help
Small steps, repeated often, lead to big changes
Start today. Your future self will thank you for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an unresolved childhood trauma test?
The unresolved childhood trauma test is a brief questionnaire that inquires about your feelings, behaviors and childhood experiences. Completing this can help you identify indicators that past traumas may be influencing you still. Please note that this is only an initial step and it is no substitute for a clinical evaluation.
Can you heal from childhood trauma as an adult?
Yes. The brain is capable of learning new patterns throughout a person's entire life. Given appropriate support, tools and patience many adults learn to feel less anxious, more confident and more connected to those around them.
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