Can you recall a specific childhood memory that still influences your behavior today?

ByDorothy M. Neddermeyer Ph.D.

All childhood experiences influence one’s behavior positively, negatively or neutral. Positive experiences propel us forward. Negative influences keep us stuck. Therefore, we need to discover how the negative influences impacted us, process it, replace the negative influence with a positive influence and create new perspectives and behavior.

Childhood trauma is the result of anything that compels a child to feel helpless, hopeless, or disrupts their sense of safety and security, including sexual, physical, or verbal abuse; domestic violence; an unstable or unsafe environment; separation from a parent; neglect; family or community bullying; serious illness; or intrusive medical procedures.

CHILDHOOD or ADULT TRAUMA IS PERHAPS THE MOST AVOIDED, IGNORED, BELITTLED, DENIED, RIDICULED, MOCKED, MISUNDERSTOOD, AND UNTREATED CAUSE OF HUMAN SUFFERING.

Positive family dynamics:

  • Positive family dynamics provide emotional support, and understanding, and reduces stress.
  • Positive family dynamic creates a sense of belonging, acceptance, and positive self-esteem.
  • Good communication within the family improves problem-solving skills and emotional expression.
  • A positive Family dynamic supports personal growth, autonomy, and pursuing individual goals.
  • Supportive family dynamics boost self-confidence and motivation.
  • Negative family dynamics with conflicts, criticism, or emotional abuse can increase anxiety, irritability, and difficulty concentrating.
  • Dysfunctional family dynamics involving neglect, substance abuse, or domestic violence raise the risk of depression, sadness, and hopelessness.
  • Over involvement and a lack of scope for autonomy from family members can hinder the development of effective coping skills to handle stressful situations.
  • Limited social connections in nuclear families can lead to feelings of isolation and selfishness. Children from single-parent families may face emotional and behavioral challenges.

If interactions with family are filled with misunderstanding and resentment, bickering and badgering communication is broken. Those we know and be known by best, end up feeling like adversaries or strangers. In order to reestablish family cohesiveness establishing healthy communication is paramount.