Childhood Trauma Can Manifest As Loneliness
Feelings of being endlessly lonely could have its roots in childhood trauma.
Being Endlessly Lonely Could Be Unresolved Childhood Trauma
And when they do connect with others, the relationships they form aren’t always constructive ones.
It seems that for many people these days, it’s gotten a lot harder to connect with others. Unfortunately, people who’ve experienced childhood trauma are at an even greater disadvantage when it comes to forming attachments.
Childhood trauma can have lifelong repercussions. These can be minor to severe, depending on the severity and duration of the trauma, the presence of parental support during the traumatic events, as well as the innate resilience of the child who experienced them.
In my years as a psychotherapist, I’ve noted that people with significant childhood trauma tend to struggle more than most with their relationships. These individuals have trouble getting close to other people, and when they do connect with others, the relationships they form aren’t always constructive ones.
Trauma in childhood can come in many forms. It can take the shape of severe parental neglect or abandonment; boundary violations or exploitation; constant criticism or undermining; parental addiction(s) or incarceration; physical assault or sexual molestation; experiences of profound loss or fear; or living in unstable or dangerous environments.
Regardless of what form the trauma takes, a lack of parental support combined with a higher degree of personal susceptibility to the traumatic events can lead to the formation of emotional wounds, and often, disorders of attachment.
In emotionally intact adults, connecting to others comes relatively easy. We meet people, we like each other, and we form strong social bonds. In individuals who’ve experienced childhood trauma, all of these stages can be disrupted.
People with a history of childhood trauma might believe that others will only want to associate with them if they’re a people-pleaser or care-taker.
The emotionally wounded individual has more difficulty trusting others after the painful experiences they’ve been through. They might have a deep-seated belief that they aren’t lovable or that they’re not entitled to a loving relationship. They might be terrified of being hurt, exploited, abandoned or rejected. All of this could lead them to isolate themselves and avoid closeness with others.
People with a history of childhood trauma might believe that others will only want to associate with them if they’re a people-pleaser or care-taker. They enter into co-dependent relationships, and when these invariably fall apart, they’re more fearful than ever of being hurt.
Some of these individuals are so convinced that they’ll be rejected that they inadvertently behave in ways that provoke the other person to do this. (This is an example of how our psychological defense mechanisms backfire, giving us exactly what we’re trying to avoid.)
People with childhood trauma may have deep (and valid) needs for love and nurture that weren’t met when they were growing up. Some believe that they can get these needs met in their adult relationships. This can lead to, at best, dysfunctional relationships and, at worst, abusive ones in which a shrewd, exploitative predator takes advantage of their neediness.
Individuals with emotional wounds from a hurtful childhood often feel uncomfortable around other people and don’t know how to act. They often feel awkward and anxious in social situations, leading to upsetting interactions which only reinforce their sense of alienation.
These individuals have difficulty forming close bonds, either because they don’t expect people to stick around or because after everything they’ve been through, it’s difficult for them to open their heart to someone else. Sometimes, their deep ambivalence about closeness makes them behave in ways that are confusing or off-putting to others.
Some individuals with a history of childhood trauma might choose friends or partners who are hurtful or abusive. This happens because everyone prefers the familiar, and hurtful people today remind these individuals of the hurtful people from their past.
Sadly, being in relationships with hurtful people can make trauma-sufferers that much more fearful about getting involved with the next person, resulting in further social withdrawal.
Loneliness is very much a part of our modern society. More and more, our “relationships” are carried out on social media as opposed to in-person. More and more, we’re so busy and over-extended that we have little time to spend with the people we care about.
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About the Author
Marcia Sirota MD FRCP(C) is a board-certified psychiatrist, that does not ascribe to any one theoretical school. Rather, she has integrated her education and life experiences into a unique approach to the practice of psychotherapy. She considers herself a realist with a healthy measure of optimism. Sign up here for her free monthly wellness newsletter.
