Adult Survivors of Childhood Trauma or Abuse

Adults who have survived complex and chronic trauma starting in childhood often have behaviors misunderstood by others as well as themselves.

They may have struggled with depression, self-destructive thoughts and actions, nightmares and insomnia, and a host of other symptoms for years.

Their partners, families and numerous medical professionals are perplexed. Survivors often have great difficulty revealing how or when their symptoms began. Professional misunderstanding may have led to misdiagnoses and ineffective treatments.

Trauma survivors would do well to look for physicians, mental health professionals and other caregivers who are familiar with the effects of trauma. I suggest going to websites such as:

-- the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) (www.istss.org),
-- the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD) (www.isst-d.org), or
-- the Sidran Institute (www.sidran.org).

They may help you find a professional in your area.