Comments on: Childhood Experience and Adult Anxiety

By: Augusta

Augusta — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 20:13:18 +0000

I agree with Dianne to a point. However, I do think there are exceptions to this rule. I think that some people are born with insight and are able to sort things out themselves. But, then again, maybe that sorting is their own rehabilitation. But, I don’t think it necessarily has to come from an outside source. As therapists, that’s sort of hard for us to see. We only see those who are seeking help for one reason or another. We wouldn’t necessarily know the people who have healed without outside assistance. But, I do think a conscious decision has to be made. I think that in order for the cycle of abuse to stop, an abuser has to find the strength to recognize the fallacies of his or her childhood, recognize that those fallacies were not his or her fault, and make a daily deliberate decision to turn away from those fallacies.

By: Dianne

Dianne — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 20:10:13 +0000

I think that those who were abused as children but do no abuse their own children have had rehabilitation of some sort. I don’t know if you can just undo damage within yourself without some sort of outside guidance. Is it always therapy? No, not necessarily. I think that sometimes a single life experience can be this rehabilitation. It may be an award one that gave self esteem to the abused person. Or, it could have been a devoted teacher who really understood the abused child and was there to lend a helping hand and a listening ear. Whatever the source, I do believe that abusers will abuse others if they are not rehabilitated.

By: Martin

Martin — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 20:07:49 +0000

Do you find that those whom you treat break the cycle of abuse? Are abusers who they are because they are repeating what they have seen or are they abusers reacting to anxiety? Or, maybe both? It seems that some people who were abused as children have the ability to do a 180 in adulthood and be very nurturing, devoted parents. While, many others are abusers themselves. I wonder what the difference is in these two types of people. What makes one person go one direction while another person goes another direction?

By: Ralph

Ralph — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 20:05:33 +0000

I found this blog to be both helpful and insightful. It does seem that most anxiety does link back to childhood experiences. But, what about the adult that is anxious due to new fears developed in adulthood? Can something like watching the news on a regular basis trigger anxiety that wasn’t previously there? Or, is it just a reawakening of an anxiety that has lain dormant for some time?

By: Ashi

Ashi — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 10:54:42 +0000

hey Lisa,
It’s really a wonderful experience to watch your kid toddling, playing, the first words he/she spoke… these remain in your memory throughout your life. Isn’t it.