Relational Trauma and Attachment Injuries
Relational trauma happens when you are hurt by the people you are supposed to be able to love, rely on, and feel attached to.
Trauma of any kind is devastating, but it has huge consequences when it is caused by your parents, intimate partners, and other close people in your life. Regardless of who hurt you, trauma from relationships can have a deep and profound impact on your ability to build the kinds of connection that you want with others in your life.
Survivors of relational trauma can respond differently to their experiences, such as:
Feeling like it is hard to trust or open up to others.
Feeling worried that important people won’t love them anymore.
Feeling like they need to keep loved ones at arms length to protect their independence.
All of these are normal responses to the hurt that you experienced, and you can learn to create relationships that feel meaningful, connected, and supportive.
“No one in my life actually knows the real me. I’m afraid that if I showed them who I truly am, they wouldn’t want to be around me anymore.”
“People can’t be trusted. They will always hurt or disappoint me.”
“I have to do everything by myself. I am the only person that I know I can count on. Relying on others just sets me up for failure.”
If this feels like you, you may be struggling with the aftermath of relational trauma.
It feels lonely and exhausting to keep your emotional distance from others. It is human nature to want people around who love and accept us for who we are, but building those relationships when we have been hurt in the past can feel terrifying.
Together, we will work to identify the ways in which your past relationships have impacted your ability to relate to others, and help you to cultivate the kinds of relationships that you deserve in your life.
