Are You an Adult Survivor of Childhood Trauma?

Did you know there are millions of adult survivors of childhood trauma in the United States?

Some have transformed the trauma they experienced, some have "packed it away in a drawer" never to be thought of again until something causes the drawer to be opened, and some still experience the impact of trauma on a daily basis.

What kind of trauma am I talking about? All kinds of trauma: physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, physical and emotional neglect, living in a home with domestic violence, living in a war zone, serious illness or death of a parent/caregiver or sibling, living in a home with alcohol or other substance abuse, a parent or caregiver being incarcerated, being kidnapped, being trafficked, being bullied, living in poverty, online bullying or abuse, exposure to violence against animals, exposure or experience of violence in the community, experiencing lack of or inadequate food, clothing, shelter, and healthcare, and the list goes on.

How do we survive such trauma? How do we heal? Can we heal? How do we transform what was bad into something good? Is that even possible? For those of us who experienced childhood trauma, can we move from victim to survivor to thriver? And if so, how?

In my work with children who have been traumatized and also my work with women who were traumatized as children, there has been one key factor which has made the difference: a caring individual in that child's life. "You may not know that person's name. They may have been in your life for only a few minutes. You may not have told them about the trauma.

But do you remember a caring individual in your life?"

If you have had a caring individual in your life, even for a few moments, you are seen, you matter, you are of value. That is a wonderful and priceless gift to a child.

We realize that not every child who has been a victim of trauma, gets to survive. For those of us who do survive, we owe it to ourselves, to the children who did not survive, and to future generations of children to heal to the best of our ability, to learn how to transform what was meant for bad into something good, to create a life of health and well-being, to give back, and to Thrive.

I believe that healing is possible. It's a healing journey. It takes patience, time, support, and hard work on your part. But it is possible.

I believe that trauma can be transformed into a gift for yourself and others. I believe that each of us who has experienced trauma can move from victim to survivor to thriver. You were a victim. Then you became a survivor. Now it's time to be a Thriver. It's time to Move Beyond Survival!

I am not denying the trauma. I am not saying forgive and forget about the trauma and just move on. But I am saying, Do the work! Transform the trauma! Create and live a life of health and well-being! You are enough! You can do this!

"What was intended for bad, God has used for good." I read those words when I was in graduate school, 20 years after my own childhood trauma. Those words opened my mind and my heart to my own healing journey and transformation. You may recognize those words. They were spoken by Joseph to his brothers in the Biblical story of Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors.

If any of this speaks to you, I invite you to join us in my training, Empowered to Heal: Redefining Your Story Beyond Trauma beginning in May.

(This is not therapy!--You can register through my website: ediesavageweeks.com

If you have questions, please contact me through my website: ediesavageweeks.com)

To Your Courageous Self!

Edie Savage-Weeks

Transformational Life Coach

ediesavageweeks.com