5 Signs You Had A Traumatic Childhood (And Don't Realize It)

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Published 2022-05-28
There are many types of childhood trauma that can range from events like physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, physical neglect, emotional neglect, divorce, substance abuse, or a mental illness. Difficulties like trusting others, low self-esteem, fears of being judged, constant nightmares, or self-destructive behaviours can be hidden signs that someone may have experienced trauma of some sort. Adults can develop symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder even if they have no explicit memory of an early childhood trauma, according to research by UCLA psychologists.

Although you may recognize some of these signs in yourself or someone you know, it is BEST not to diagnose yourself. Please reach out to a professional if you want to get treatment of some sort.

Psych2Go is on a mission to raise awareness of mental health and destigmatize mental health issues. We hope that this video will encourage you to talk.

Writer: Stela Kosic
Script Editor: Isadora Ho
Script Manager: Kelly Soong
Voice: Amanda Silvera (youtube.com/amandasilvera)
Animator: Kami Animation youtube.com/c/KamiAnimationChannel
YouTube Manager: Cindy Cheong

Age Regression: Trauma, Coping Mechanisms, and Therapy Info Getty. (2022, January 24). Verywell Health. www.verywellhealth.com/age-repression-therapy-5212676
Augsburger, M., & Elbert, T. (2017). When do traumatic experiences alter risk-taking behavior? A machine learning analysis of reports from refugees. PLOS ONE, 12(5), e0177617. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0177617
Cikanavicius, D. (2018, May 14). 5 Ways Childhood Neglect and Trauma Skews Our Self-Esteem. Psych Central. psychcentral.com/blog/psychology-self/2018/05/childhood-self-esteem
How Attachment Theory Works. (2019, July 17). Verywell Mind. www.verywellmind.com/what-is-attachment-theory-2795337
Lamothe, C. (2020, March 30). Conflict Avoidance Doesn’t Do You Any Favors. Healthline. www.healthline.com/health/conflict-avoidance

All Comments (21)
  • @Psych2go
    Psych2Go is on a mission to raise awareness of mental health and destigmatize mental health issues. We hope that this video will encourage you to talk.
  • @Dev.Yadav.
    Most parents don't think about their kids emotions. Feeds and clothe that's all they think kids need.
  • @trex7370
    I was shocked to see how comfortable my friends are with their parents until I realized mine were just too toxic to make me feel comfortable
  • @anotherplanet5828
    My emotions got shut down with “I’ll give you something to cry about!” and “stop it, you’re gonna make yourself sick!” Mom was a closet alcoholic and covert narc. Dad was stern, scary, short fused and probably on the spectrum and had no idea what to do with emotional issues. Thanks for the validation and comfort that I get from your vids. You are doing important and life changing work.
  • @carolsipala1639
    My childhood was horrific and has left me damaged. Trusting people is very difficult.
  • @ToughAqua777
    Just a heads-up for others: Parents aren't always the cause. For me, it was my school environment that caused my trauma. My family was actually very supportive! But trauma is trauma; the cause may be different but we're just as valid!
  • @erushi_rose
    It makes me so sad that my parents brush off the illness of PTSD. I have been diagnosed with PTSD recently and I always feel heartbroken knowing that the experiences I had growing up weren't normal. I am still living with my parents (I'm in high school) and I always try to avoid conflict as much as possible for my little sister, as I can tell she is obviously experiencing the traumatic aftereffects of her childhood that are still ongoing. I always tear up when I see her flinch every time my Dad just walks past or near her.
  • @rottedbug
    wow, hearing age regression being addressed so casually an directly is so nice. age regression is not in any way related to nsfw things (contrary to popular assumption), it's a trauma response and coping mechanism and is often involuntary. and indeed, sometimes it is NOT fun. thank you for mentioning it
  • Number 2, 3 and 4 are literally me. My mom constantly criticized me, berated me and talked down to me if I voiced my opinion that wasn't in line with her. My mom discreted my feelings as overreacting and childish. I understand she was a single mom who was going through a difficult time herself. But under no circumstances you take that anger out on anyone. Especially not a child.
  • My childhood was horrible. I was sexually assaulted by my 16 year old neighbor when I was 6. I watched my dad beat my mom all the time. I also have anxiety, depression and borderline personality disorder. I have an 8 year old son that I have to be careful around because anger is a huge side effect but he has a great life, he’s very comfortable and tells me things he won’t tell anyone else. He’s very loved and I’m happy he’s here. I need to not let my mental illnesses affect him
  • @chicobicalho5621
    From 0 to 9 I grew up in a wonderful, loving environment. Just as I turned nine, my mom died in a stupid automobile accident, caused by a bus driver that went through a red light. Suddenly, my life flipped around in absolute terms; my farther went bezerk, married a woman that was the exact opposite of my mom, and my life became a nightmare. What kept me from falling appart was the massive amount of love I received from my mother, a love that helped me survive this nightmare, and a sense I had, which I don't know where it came from, that I should live my life to make her proud of her only child, and this, miraculously, gave me strength to go on, and to survive. Now, looking back, I believe she would be very proud of her kid, but at the same time, I realize what a horrible experience I went through. This, by the way, took place 50 years ago.
  • Whenever I would get upset about anything, I was told that I was too sensitive. I learned to clam up and not say anything. Repressing your emotions will hurt you for your entire life. I know. I’ve done it for most of mine. I’m typically a people pleaser though. I just want to be needed and loved. It stinks because occasionally I blow like a volcano.
  • @slam5798
    I've been going to therapy for about 7 months now and have been diagnosed with compounded complex trauma. It's incredible to me how much of my childhood i thought was normal until I got older and noticed my friends weren't scared of their parents. They didn't get screamed at or hit anytime they challenged, questioned anything, or voiced their own thoughts on something. Going to a friend's house where they have a safe environment is a real eye opener.
  • I met my childhood friend a few months ago, I went over and stayed there for a while too. Eventually, I kept seeing how respectful and happy they were with their parents even though they were already a teen. The more time i spent with them, the more i got jealous of their relationship with their parents. I didn't want to cause any issues, so i would eventually just leave. I've always wondered what it would feel like to not go though continuous trauma your entire childhood since then. I'm still jealous -.-
  • @EchoDotNetDotCom
    I trust people too easily to try to fill up how abandoned and empty I feel
  • @Itsjettondon05
    I told my dad I was suicidal and he told me “no your not” and moved on that’s what made me realize he wasn’t the best person. It’s like always knew something was wrong but that’s what made me realize it
  • @sallysmith8081
    I am very old now, 75. After being a very busy adult, working and raising children, I had time to think about my childhood and its possible effects on me, because I still have numerous behaviors as listed in this video. I was the youngest child;I was like a ghost child. Fed and clothed, never complimented, never told I was loved. My siblings all had something special they offered my parents. My sister became a nun, and my brothers simply had to be males. I was very attached to my parents, but I realize the touching and affection was from me to them, not the other way around. Very difficult to stand up for myself, and always afraid I am going to make someone mad at me. I believe this all has led me to over eat. It's my way of doing something nice for myself, as horrible as it seems to say that. That is my risky behavior, which I am having a hard time stopping.
  • I grew up in the era of “children should be seen but not heard” when I look back I realise that was wrong & did not do this with my children, they have grown up with a healthy self esteem & im so proud of them. It still hurts sometimes what I experienced, but I understand & have come to terms with it, my parents took me to a child psychiatrist when I was 6 because I was so anxious, but it was just brushed off really. I still wonder why sometimes but I’ve just pushed past it as I’m in my 50s now, I can’t let that define my life
  • @NixTheTrix127
    I always feel dumb and dramatic when i think things like these happened to me. I was raised in a household where we were told that people with depression, anxiety, childhood trauma, etc, were just being dramatic. My parents mainly just made me feel like nothing i did was ever good enough. They also didnt respect my thoughts or personal space. If i complained about feeling sad, i was told that life wasnt fair and to suck it up. My parents also were very loving. I feel like i did have a good childhood but with subtle toxic parenting that we all just ignored. This is why i feel like i should just keep my feelings to myself. I feel like my feelings arent valid.