Therefore, not only can you develop trauma from events in childhood, but trauma can surface from the relationships with individuals involved in those adverse experiences as well.

For example, growing up in a household where affection was conditional or withheld can impact how you engage in and perceive affection in adulthood. Understanding attachment trauma showcases its origins in the attachment relationships you form most often with caregivers and other family members. Moreover, many forms of physiological trauma occur in childhood during your early development with family members that you are dependent on. Developmental trauma can be a single threatening event and or a continuative collection of experiences that are overwhelming, inescapable, and leave you powerless. However, understanding attachment trauma can help you see those early childhood traumas are not interchangeable but rather can inform each other. Often terms like developmental trauma and attachment trauma are used interchangeably. The Relationship Between Attachment and Developmental TraumaĪccording to an article from Frontiers in Psychology, the cumulative collection of childhood traumas within familial attachment relationships is identified through overlapping terms. Thus, understanding attachment trauma acknowledges the deep connection between attachment and developmental trauma. Some of the consequences of developmental trauma and unhealthy attachment styles can include developmental delays, behavioral issues, mental health disorders, and substance use disorder (SUD). On the other hand, insecure and disorganized attachments in early childhood can increase exposure to trauma and have a negative impact on your physical and psychological well-being. Therefore, having traumatic experiences in relation to your early familial relationships can cause a ripple effect that follows you into adulthood.Īs stated in an article from the Universal Journal of Educational Research, having secure and healthy relationships early on can support healthier coping strategies when children encounter trauma. These early relationships inform your self-concept and how you engage with the world around you.

Engages in unusual behaviors when they are reunited with their caregiverįurthermore, understanding attachment trauma means understanding how the attachment style you form with your caregivers impacts how you learn to regulate emotions, develop social skills, and build coping strategies.

Facilitated by disorganized separation from their caregiver.

The caregiver is a source of comfort and a source of fear and stress.

More likely to ignore or avoid their caregiver.

May become visibly upset when they are not being held.

Children seek little physical contact with their caregivers.

May appear to be angry with their caregiver while seeking comfort.

Tends to be clingy toward their caregiver.

Children are less likely to explore their environment.

Unpredictable relationship with their caregiver.

During a separation from their caregiver.

Children can explore the world with a secure base in their caregiver.

As the VA notes, there are four styles of attachment that can form in your early life: The relationship you form with your parents or guardians in your early development is an important part of how you form and engage in relationships well into your adulthood. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), attachment is defined as your primary emotional relationship with your childhood caregiver. To understand attachment trauma, we must first recognize what attachment entails. The Importance of Understanding Attachment Trauma Therefore, we believe by understanding how the traumas of your childhood have impacted you, you can open the door to self-understanding and long-term healing.

When your story goes untold, it can perpetuate self-defeating thoughts and behaviors that make it difficult for you to lead a life filled with self-love and understanding. Understanding attachment trauma is an important part of your recovery journey, as adverse experiences are just as fundamental as positive experiences in shaping who you are as well as your perception of the world around you.Īt The Guest House, we know that the adverse experiences of your life often go unwitnessed and unacknowledged. The effects of attachment trauma are long-lasting, often interfering with personal relationships and mental health throughout adulthood. Contrary to what you may believe, most people struggle with attachment trauma in one way or another.

Signs of attachment trauma in adults