Friends Say You're 'Acting Like A Child'Īcting a little immature on occasion isn't anything to worry about - everyone's entitled to a little outburst when truly frustrated, upset, or exhausted. You might notice that you struggle to be away from your partner even for a night, or that you really don't like it when family goes out of own. She says many people will have a strong emotional reaction to someone leaving them, for example, and feel emotionally dysregulated in a way that's disproportionate to the event itself. You Struggle With Fears Of Abandonmentįear of abandonment can be a symptom childhood development disruptions, marriage and family therapist Lisa Bahar, L.M.F.T., L.P.C.C. If this tendency to overreact sounds familiar, it can be a starting point for conversations with a therapist. You also might find that you're easily startled, or that you go from zero to sixty with your anger. So you might notice that, in certain situations, those around you might not be bothered by something that you are extremely bothered by. 'People who have unaddressed negative or traumatic events from childhood often struggle with mood regulation and managing strong emotions,' Johnson says.

When that's the case, you may catch yourself in fight-or-flight mode and not know why. 'When someone experiences a negative or traumatic event in childhood, their brain records the specific sensations (sights, sounds, smells, etc.) and brings that negative experience to memory when similar stimuli is encountered in the future,' Johnson says. One possible explanation is past trauma associated with that situation or place. You might not be able to step foot in a grocery store without sweating or worrying, for example, or smell a certain food without panicking. In the same vein, you might notice that certain situations or places causes you anxiety. Specific Places Or Situations Freak You Out By seeking their advice, you can learn valuable ways to move past old trauma, and feel more at ease. And that's when a therapist can be a big help. While it's obviously good to be wary of strangers, this response can get out of control to the point where everyone feels like a threat. It could be that this person, for whatever reason, reminds you of something or someone from your past, so your body is cautioning you to stay away. 'It's the body's 'alarm system' or way of warning that this type of person is not safe,' he says. If you have a repressed childhood memory, you may find yourself feeling triggered or having strong emotional reactions to people who remind you of previous negative experiences, family therapist Jordan Johnson, L.M.F.T., tells Bustle. You Have Strong Reactions To Certain People Read on for some signs you might be repressing memories or old wounds from the past, as well as what you can do about it. You can, for example, experience anxiety without having gone through something traumatizing as a kid. While many of the symptoms listed below are not exclusively signs of repressed childhood trauma in adults, they are commonly found in people who come to know they were in fact repressing memories. 'It is very important to go to therapy to unlock the memories and likely trauma.' 'These unresolved memories can stifle your growth and development and lead to a 'stunted' adulthood in terms of self-esteem and personal identity,' psychotherapist Bruce W. Though not all people who live with these conditions are survivors of abuse, it can help to know the signs you might be repressing negative childhood memories, so that you can seek support.

People who have blocked out pain from their childhood may have anxiety or have a fear of abandonment - which can be particularly frustrating if they don't know why. If you endured a traumatic experience as a child, it's possible your brain may have repressed the negative memories, leading to surprising situational and emotional challenges in your adult life.

Signs you may have repressed trauma