Comments on: Attachment Trauma: The Unique Impact of Trauma in Infancy https://cptsdfoundation.org/2021/03/29/attachment-trauma-the-unique-impact-of-trauma-in-infancy/ The Foundation for Post-Traumatic Healing and Complex Trauma Research Mon, 22 May 2023 11:22:12 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Sophia https://cptsdfoundation.org/2021/03/29/attachment-trauma-the-unique-impact-of-trauma-in-infancy/#comment-18728 Mon, 22 May 2023 11:22:12 +0000 https://cptsdfoundation.org/?p=235893#comment-18728 Wow, this sounded like someone describing me and how I’ve felt for most of my life, it’s uncanny. I’ve been diagnosed by multiple psychologists as having CPTSD. When I was a baby/toddler/child, my mum had CPTSD herself, was suicidal, and suffered badly from depression and chronic illness. Her relationship with my father was emotionally abusive and she later left him. However, on the outside we were seen by others as a ‘perfect’ family, and my father is still admired by many people and my brother denies anything was wrong. They both tend to assume I was in some way born defective, bad, or ‘troubled’. I struggle as an adult to feel justified in having CPTSD and in feeling justified in getting treatment for it.

]]> By: Geraldo https://cptsdfoundation.org/2021/03/29/attachment-trauma-the-unique-impact-of-trauma-in-infancy/#comment-18104 Thu, 23 Feb 2023 17:27:38 +0000 https://cptsdfoundation.org/?p=235893#comment-18104 I think I’m in a chronic state of dissociation for 30 years. In one side my jehova’s witness family, on the other my bullies from school. So for me everything was fine and normal and I had to hide myself, being invisibile.

]]> By: Joyce https://cptsdfoundation.org/2021/03/29/attachment-trauma-the-unique-impact-of-trauma-in-infancy/#comment-17945 Sun, 29 Jan 2023 22:32:25 +0000 https://cptsdfoundation.org/?p=235893#comment-17945 Recently and thankfully ? diagnosed at 57 This article blew my mind and heart. The family stories of my infancy told as an adventure type horror story that “we” overcame – this dx started there and your article is the first time I’ve ever realized that. This already has and will tremendously help as I tip toe towards healing. Thank you does not begin to describe my appreciation that you shared your story

]]> By: Andrew Corbett https://cptsdfoundation.org/2021/03/29/attachment-trauma-the-unique-impact-of-trauma-in-infancy/#comment-6085 Sun, 27 Jun 2021 15:51:24 +0000 https://cptsdfoundation.org/?p=235893#comment-6085 In reply to Edda.

I had the same experience of the pain growing and intensifying as I got older. Which eventually led to my needing to change my relationship to it.

For me, the path through was to develop unconditional love for myself. That required acceptance of, curiosity about, and compassion for that part of myself that was in pain. So, embracing and listening to it — not simply tolerating it. And that is very hard — I could only force myself do it after everything else had failed. And I needed the help of a good, empathic therapist.

The very concept of turning towards it came from Tara Brach’s book Radical Acceptance. I recommend checking out that book, and Tara’s podcasts, if you haven’t already.

Kind wishes to you.

]]> By: Edda https://cptsdfoundation.org/2021/03/29/attachment-trauma-the-unique-impact-of-trauma-in-infancy/#comment-5922 Thu, 24 Jun 2021 14:27:59 +0000 https://cptsdfoundation.org/?p=235893#comment-5922 In reply to Andrew Corbett.

Thank you so much for this article🙏🏼 I understand the need to not run away from the pain but what is the purpose of turning towards it? The pain grows and intensifies as I get older

]]> By: Sara https://cptsdfoundation.org/2021/03/29/attachment-trauma-the-unique-impact-of-trauma-in-infancy/#comment-4567 Wed, 28 Apr 2021 05:28:15 +0000 https://cptsdfoundation.org/?p=235893#comment-4567 In reply to Alec Fraher.

Great article

]]> By: Andrew Corbett https://cptsdfoundation.org/2021/03/29/attachment-trauma-the-unique-impact-of-trauma-in-infancy/#comment-4330 Thu, 08 Apr 2021 15:24:18 +0000 https://cptsdfoundation.org/?p=235893#comment-4330 In reply to Janiem.

I can feel the pain through your words, and I know how hard it is. I’m sorry you are suffering so. All I can say is that for most of my life I also couldn’t imagine ever feeling OK, and yet now I do — and I have to believe that’s possible for you too.

My path towards recovery has been complex and multi-faceted, impossible to distill into a few words. But I will say that the following aspects were key: I had to stop trying to make the pain go away and instead turn-towards it and even befriend it, I needed an experienced and empathetic therapist to help and support me while I learned how to do that, and I’m convinced that EMDR therapy was also a critical component.

I have also found Tara Brach’s work to be incredibly valuable. I particularly recommend listening to her podcast Healing Trauma: The Light Shines Through the Broken Places: https://www.tarabrach.com/healing-trauma/, but all her podcasts are comforting and encouraging, and have practical ideas to help get you through. Also listen to her podcasts on the RAIN approach to self-compassion.

I hope this is helpful. Kind wishes for you.

]]> By: Jean https://cptsdfoundation.org/2021/03/29/attachment-trauma-the-unique-impact-of-trauma-in-infancy/#comment-4292 Tue, 06 Apr 2021 20:55:34 +0000 https://cptsdfoundation.org/?p=235893#comment-4292 i recovered from 20 yrs of anorexia, and then the trauma fell off the shelf. mine was really early and severe and I am massively struggling with it. i think the worst thing is the abandonment terror/attachment stuff……….ive never managed to even gone on a date due to the attachment trauma……and it is so brutal its all i can do to hold on. I can’t imagine it gets better as it haunts me so much at the moment that feeling like im going to die and Im so desperate to be rescued and Im all alone and it can never get better………..and the emotional pain is so severe like you say. i wonder if someone like me can ever make headway with it do you think that is possible? i think it is amazing you feel better. thanks for your article.

]]> By: Janiem https://cptsdfoundation.org/2021/03/29/attachment-trauma-the-unique-impact-of-trauma-in-infancy/#comment-4274 Tue, 06 Apr 2021 07:37:48 +0000 https://cptsdfoundation.org/?p=235893#comment-4274 i recovered from 20 yrs of anorexia, and then the trauma fell off the shelf. mine was really early and severe and I am massively struggling with it. i think the worst thing is the abandonment terror/attachment stuff……….ive never managed to even gone on a date due to the attachment trauma……and it is so brutal its all i can do to hold on. I can’t imagine it gets better as it haunts me so much at the moment that feeling like im going to die and Im so desperate to be rescued and Im all alone and it can never get better………..and the emotional pain is so severe like you say. i wonder if someone like me can ever make headway with it do you think that is possible? i think it is amazing you feel better. thanks for your article.

]]> By: Andrew Corbett https://cptsdfoundation.org/2021/03/29/attachment-trauma-the-unique-impact-of-trauma-in-infancy/#comment-4246 Fri, 02 Apr 2021 14:08:58 +0000 https://cptsdfoundation.org/?p=235893#comment-4246 In reply to Lesley Vlietstra.

I’m glad this resonated for you, thanks for letting me know. In an earlier version, while I was writing this, I was less personal in my descriptions of the symptoms. I decided it would be more useful to be open about my personal experiences. This was harder — a bit more emotional to write — but now I’m glad I did.

I was as surprised as anyone when I started to experience a sense of healing. But it has been a long road. I’ve been thinking of writing more about my journey (every journey is unique, of course) and you’ve given me more motivation to do so.

Kind wishes to you.

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