You see, the coping mechanisms that once were adaptive for surviving this early attachment trauma can become maladaptive later in life.īut as Janina Fisher, PhD, says, “Nobody wakes up in the morning and says, ‘I’m going to go re-enact some trauma today.’” How Attachment Trauma Lingers Later in LifeĪttachment trauma in adults can be detected through defenses and coping mechanisms. Unfortunately for our clients, forming associations like this can cause the trauma to then be re-enacted throughout their lives. In this way, the boy may have started to associate these positive traits with the shame, fear, and sense of danger. The boy watched as neighbors and extended family offered to help, but his mother’s pride prevented her from accepting it.Įven without any intentional malice, the boy started to feel abandoned by his mother, his biggest source of support, compassion, and intimacy. When she was there, she was exhausted and emotionally drained. ![]() When she had to take on a second job to support them, she was no longer around as often to help him navigate life. until they fell on hard times economically. His father left when he was young, but his mother served as a strong support system for him. Take, for example, a young boy raised by a single mother. When someone has had an attachment rupture, especially in early childhood, it can be a lot like food poisoning.Īttachment trauma refers to severe ruptures to attachment bonds, often in early childhood. In fact, it’s likely that this woman will avoid sushi for a long time, even if she knows it isn’t tainted, because even the smell can trigger memories of how sick she had gotten. If you’ve ever had food poisoning, you’ll know that it isn’t an experience you’d like to repeat. A few hours later, this woman feels nauseous and begins to vomit. In a rush to get to work, she doesn’t realize the expiration date on the sushi was several days ago. ![]() Let’s say a woman runs into a store and quickly grabs prepackaged sushi for lunch. So how can we recognize attachment trauma and set clients on the path to healing? Early attachment traumas can have long-lasting effects on a client’s life – effects that are often subtle.
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