Physical Health Issues Complex Trauma Survivors Can Endure ~ Lilly Hope Lucario

 

There are many physical and mental health issues, survivors of complex trauma endure. They can range from mildly life impacting – to severely life impacting.

I write a lot about the mental health issues, that develop as a result of ongoing abuse, including by ongoing child abuse, complex trauma and severe repeated abuse and trauma. The mental health issues that can develop are Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD), severe PTSD, depression, anxiety and there are more. Many mental health illness/disorders can be triggered in particular by childhood trauma and abuse.

This article highlights, the physical health issues that many also develop, as well as the mental health issues… as trauma affects physical health, as well as mental health.

“Childhood trauma isn’t something you just get over as you grow up.

Pediatrician Nadine Burke Harris explains that the repeated stress of abuse, neglect and parents struggling with mental health or substance abuse issues has real, tangible effects on the development of the brain.

This unfolds across a lifetime, to the point where those who’ve experienced high levels of trauma are at triple the risk for heart disease and lung cancer.

An impassioned plea for pediatric medicine to confront the prevention and treatment of trauma, head-on.”

~ Dr. Nadine Burke Harris – TED Med 2014

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On 14th June 2017, I asked my amazing complex trauma community audience, to list the physical health issues they endure as a result of complex trauma.

These were some of the responses…

Fibromyalgia muscle pain, due to decades of body hyper-vigilance, headaches, dizziness, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, exhaustion.

Adrenal insufficiency from chronic stress

Anorexia (past), still have chronic fatigue syndrome, adrenal fatigue, IBS, other digestive issues, women’s problems, detoxification issues, vitamin D deficiency, all I think linked. I think some of that is to do with the anger being stored in the liver. All to do with trauma being trapped in the body & DNA. Epigenetic etc.

Headaches, unable to distinguish the here and now physical symptoms versus flashback body issues, chronic pain ( but I also have physical injury ) I think muscle tension increases pain during stressful times, anniversary dates (months).

I have developed Pseudo-seizures due to the trauma and chronic stress I endured. When I feel threatened I start having tics. If I have to deal directly with my abuser, attend court or something that triggers my PTSD I actually have a seizure. The Psychiatric Neurologist said that the abuse and chronic stress has taken a physical form. It’s repairable through intensive therapy. My PTSD brought on my Fibromyalgia about 10 years ago. My chronic pain and tics/seizures have made it so that I am unable to work anymore or drive. It’s devastating.

Due to Complex PTSD – my worst physical symptom was inability to eat without severe vomiting , which in turn caused serious acid reflux., weigh loss etc and also stripped the enamel off my teeth.

IBS-d (which is horrid for me) headaches, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, poor appetite or too much appetite, muscle tension and pain, fatigue, high blood pressure, GERD. Just off the top of my head. Hyper-vigilance and anxiety is the cause of much of it.

Sharp muscle spasms in my neck. Debilitating stress headaches.

I have IBS, hyper-vigilance and hypertension. Blood pressure couldn’t be read the other evening as it was too high? Cold feet and sweaty.  Muscle aches….feel like I’ve run a marathon. Exhausted.

Chronic migraines, chronic fatigue syndrome, psychosomatic joint pain in my hands, morbid obesity.

The Most Terribly Abused & Abandoned Child ~ Lilly Hope Lucario

Unless someone has experienced this, they will not fully comprehend how terrible a childhood like this, is for a vulnerable child. Or comprehend the life impacting consequences of this.

To not have one safe, caring adult in a child’s life, means the child is terribly abandoned and always unsafe.

No wonder the child grows into an adult who has such deep trust issues, and never feels ‘safe enough’.

Watching Narcissistic Mothers Harm Their Daughters in ‘Feud’, Was Eye Opening

I’ve been watching Feud over the last week. It’s the show about Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, and their intense rivalry, and their toxic lives.

It is really eye opening for me. Parts of it – seeing how both of these women treated their daughters – was very reminiscent of my relationship with my mother.

Both Bette Davis and Joan Crawford had personalities founded in narcissism, ego, envy & manipulation. Having done some research, I am aware they were both considered narcissists, or possibly Crawford was Borderline Personality Disorder – but of the narcissistic type. They were both highly manipulative, selfish women.

It was fascinating watching this show and I’ve also watched most of ‘Whatever Happened To Baby Jane’ and it is amazing how well both of these women could play the part of terrible human beings, with pathological envy, and highly toxic personalities. And I know it has been said – they were so easily able to play these parts, because those behaviours and attitudes were part of their actual personalities.

Both of these women have daughters who went on to write books – about the toxic nature of their mother’s personalities and the abuse they endured. I have only now worked out that the phrase ‘Mommie, Dearest’ – used often by daughters of narcissistic mothers – comes from the book named ‘Mommie, Dearest’ (and the subsequent movie) – written by Joan Crawford’s daughter. Bette Davis’ daughter wrote ‘My Mother’s Keeper’ and again this expresses the highly toxic relationship between the daughter and her narcissistic, abusive mother.

What struck me as very reminiscent of my own relationship, with my toxic mother – is how the daughters were both just extensions of their mother. Both expected their daughters to look after them (parentification abuse), and all thoughts and actions were totally selfish and often abusive towards their daughters. There was no real or genuine love for their daughters. It was always ‘all about the mother’.

And it was interesting seeing some of the people around Joan Crawford and Bette Davis defend them, and suggest the daughters were lying, or exaggerating. Yet, the motivations of these people defending them – were entirely self serving as well. This happens in the lives of people where narcissistic people are present. Toxic people often have their ‘flying monkeys’ and defenders. And they like to try and bring down the person revealing the truth. It’s common, in these situations where toxic people are manipulating others.

Interestingly both of the daughters, chose to remove themselves from the toxic issues. They had insight into the toxicity of their mothers, and both sought to build lives away from the danger. And good for them.

I’m also not surprised that both of their mothers wanted to exact revenge and spite on their daughters, by disinheriting them. A final act of hatred towards their own daughters – for daring to expose their mothers for the abusive, selfish, narcissistic, vindictive bullies that they were.

I would like to read both of the biographies and watch the movie ‘Mommie, Dearest’.

The 7 Areas Of Symptoms & Behavioural Characteristics Due To Childhood Complex Trauma

 

The following is from http://www.aaets.org/article174.htm and is accredited to work by experts in the field, who’s work I follow, such as Bessel van der Kolk and John Briere.

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Psychological trauma in early childhood can have a tremendous negative impact as it can distort the infant, toddler or young child’s social, emotional, neurological, physical and sensory development. This is especially true of young children who have experienced multiple and/or chronic, adverse interpersonal traumatic events through the child’s care giving system. Experts in the traumatic stress field such as J. Briere, J. Spinazzola and B.S. van der Kolk have developed the term “complex trauma” to identify this form of trauma.                                   

The symptoms and behavioral characteristics of complex trauma have been categorized into seven domains:

Unmet Childhood Needs, Don’t Just Go Away ~ Lilly Hope Lucario

I found inner child healing helped me to meet many of my unmet childhood needs.

My therapy is also where some of these needs are met. I am aware of transference and how normal this is, in therapy for healing childhood complex trauma.

I have info about inner child healing on my Website

@ http://www.healingfromcomplextraumaandptsd.com/inner-child-healing

My Blog Has Reached Over 1 Million Views!!

I am amazed & thankful my blog has reached over 1 million views!

I am reflecting on all I have achieved…

I have raised considerable awareness, compassion & understanding about Complex Trauma, Child Abuse & Complex PTSD.

I have put into words – such painful & complex symptoms and issues, that many are unable to express & helped many understand themselves more.

I have helped many in their healing process, as per the amazing feedback I receive.

I’ve had requests for my Website & this Blog to be featured in books on recovering from abuse. And I am so thankful to these authors. 

I’ve had articles published, on platforms to further reach more survivors and provide further education.

I have created a quality Website, recommended by many mental health professionals & I so thankful for all their support.

Website @ http://www.healingfromcomplextraumaandptsd.com/

Thank you, to all who support me, my work, share my posts, and help me, to achieve all this.

Much gratitude and love to you all!

Much love, Lilly Hope Lucario.

❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

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Childhood trauma & it’s impact – as per Prof. Bessel van der Kolk

See this link for the full interview with Prof. Bessel van der Kolk.

@ http://sideeffectspublicmedia.org/post/childhood-trauma-leads-brains-wired-fear

I see the push to generalise all trauma as equal, but this is not correct. Research and neuroscience, continually show childhood complex trauma, causes greater damage and life long consequences.

This needs to be validated, not invalidated or minimized.

I refuse to allow anyone to minimize or invalidate the 20 years of trauma I endured, which profoundly affected my whole life.