traumatic childhood

Sometimes, a relationship with a parent reaches a breaking point. Maybe your mom just doesn’t seem to hear you, no matter how many times you try to explain. Maybe your dad’s constant political remarks leave you feeling frustrated or unheard every time you talk. Or perhaps you’ve tried to open…

Every parent wants their child to be happy and healthy. That’s a given. What’s less clear-cut? How to help them get there, especially when it comes to supporting your child’s mental health. Most parents aren’t given the tools to spot warning signs or know where to find support when their…

Think of the individual events in any memory as pieces of a puzzle. Some are clearly defined: It’s easy to spot which piece fits with another piece. Others may be foggy, disjointed, or annoyingly absent, so your brain has a hard time seeing the whole picture. When you can’t remember…

Does your mom depend on you for her emotional well-being? Does your partner prioritize a parent’s needs over yours—or your kids’? Do you feel like your parent’s expectations dictate your decisions—or that you’re “letting them down” when you do things your way? If any of this sounds familiar, you might…

Parent-child relationships play a crucial role in shaping a child’s development and can influence their lives well into adulthood—sometimes positively, sometimes negatively. While most parents strive to do their best, they are human, and the challenges of raising children often lead to mistakes. As a result, conflicts and unresolved issues…

Young children show the effects of trauma in many ways. They may seem anxious, sad, afraid, act out, become aggressive, or even shut down emotionally. When difficult situations break or stress the all-important bond between children and parents, the symptoms of trauma can persist or worsen.  Children need to know…

An inferiority complex refers to someone’s unrealistic perceptions of their inadequacy. While it can be a symptom of certain mental health conditions, inferiority complexes aren’t recognized in the DSM-5 but are still a mental health concern for many everyday people.  Learn the truth about inferiority complexes below, including the signs,…

Few other psychological conditions affect an individual’s ability to function quite like abandonment issues. Often formed in response to a traumatic or neglectful childhood experience, abandonment issues can wreak havoc on the emotional and external lives of both children and adults who struggle to see their own value and to…

There is a wide number of conditions that look very similar to others, and they can often be confused during the diagnosis process. Certain conditions can even co-occur, or happen at the same time, in certain patients, making it even more difficult to mark what separates one from the other. …

Childhood, if nothing else, is a memorable period of our lives. Hopefully, we can recall blissful memories: of holidays, old friends, family vacations, and time spent simply running around, doing all the things kids do. But not every childhood experience is so positive—some of us have adverse childhood experiences. In…