Whether the abuse is emotional, physical or sexual, damage done in your childhood doesn’t just affect you when you’re young. Children can be very impressionable, and the experiences we go through as a child can have a bigger part to play in shaping who we become as an adult than many of us may realize. Going through an abusive situation as a child or being abused by somebody who was in a position of trust can lead to severe mental health issues in many adults. The good news is that whatever you have been through, help is out there for everybody. It’s not uncommon for children who suffer abuse to grow into adults who suffer from depression, anxiety, and other mental health complaints, but with the right treatment, you can come out the other side stronger and more in control than ever before.

#1. Therapy:

For many adults who suffered abuse as a child, their therapist is the first person they talk to. As a child, it can be difficult to talk about any kind of abuse, and many children don’t realize the seriousness of what happens to them until they are much older. On the other hand, as an adult, you know who to turn to and have a clearer idea of what’s right and wrong. Speaking with a therapist can give you the outlet that you need to get everything off your chest in a non-biased, non-judgmental environment. Visit Examined Existence for more mental health tips.

#2. Medical Treatment and Rehabilitation:

For many adults who were the victims of abuse as children, it can be all too easy to fall into a pattern of self-destruction. Mental health issues caused by suffering abuse as a child can lead to further problems, for example, alcohol, drug, and other addiction issues, or simply falling into unhealthy lifestyle patterns and habits. If you have gotten to a point where you’re worried about your lifestyle, you might want to consider turning to your doctor, who may be able to prescribe anti-depressant medication or enroll you on a suitable rehabilitation program if needed. Although it’s going to take some deeper treatment to get to the root of the problem, making some smaller changes to your daily lifestyle habits can help to boost your mood and change your self-esteem. Often, low self-esteem is characteristic of adults who survived abuse as a child, so working on improving your health, fitness, and image now can enable you to feel like you’re finally the one in control.

#3. Find Supportive Friends:

Lastly, supportive friends around you can make all the difference when getting over this very terrible thing that happened to you early in life. Whether you are still a relatively young person, or it’s taken you a long time to come to terms with the abuse that you survived, having people that you can trust and confide in supporting you will give you the confidence that you need to finally overcome your past.

As an adult, getting over abuse from your childhood can be one of the most difficult things that you’ll ever do, but you’ll come out the other side a stronger person.