Childhood trauma can be a precursor to toxic relationships, feeling not good enough, feeling like a failure, and even addiction in adulthood. This is not entirely surprising, as we know early childhood to be a critical emotional, mental and physical time for development. The negative and positive experiences that imprinted in those early years teach us and greatly determine how we see the world and people. These influences of childhood trauma on adulthood can be subconscious, or even unknown to some people experiencing it. However, understanding the way our history influences us can help us navigate solutions and change to improve our social, emotional and mental health, as well as self-respect and self-esteem and how we function in our relationships.

Have you found yourself wondering why you do the things you do in relationships? Or found yourself falling into the same patterns, even in new relationships? Patterns that feel like they’re making it hard to develop or sustain a healthy relationship? Early childhood experiences of trauma, or even the way you felt connected and cared for by your caregivers (your attachment style) may be to blame. Your attachment style, which is developed from very early childhood, may be a key component to understanding yourself and why you feel how you do when in relationships.