Life has never been easy for me. Growing up was a challenge in so many ways, not least of which was dealing with my own childhood trauma. It cast a shadow over much of my adolescence and young adulthood, and still haunts me at times today. From an early age, I was trying to make sense of the world around me when the events that had shaped my life were incomprehensible. Instead of feeling safe and secure I often found myself feeling isolated and alone.
I can still recall some of the triggers that set off feelings related to these traumas – a certain song or smell, a place from my past or even somebody talking about it could all cause memories to flood back unbidden. I am determined though, to find ways to cope with these triggers rather than be overwhelmed by them completely. I have learnt the hard way that validating what happened in my childhood is crucial for me if I am ever going to move on. Acknowledging this part of my life does not mean embracing it as part of who I am today – instead it’s about learning how to accept what happened while continuing to look towards the future.
After years of therapy, self-help books, and exploring various methods of healing such as yoga and art therapy - not to mention having supportive friends around me - I now feel like I am genuinely making progress in overcoming this trauma from my past. With every step forward something new is revealed; truths that now allow me to see the silver lining in all those complicated experiences from years ago, helping to shape who I have become today despite everything. For me personally it’s also about understanding that those times have passed; they have made their mark but they can no longer hold power over me unless I let them do so.