THEY DO NOT HAVE TO BE EXTRAORDINARILY NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES
DEVELOPMENTAL TRAUMA
Developmental trauma can result from 'minor' events, that are not minor to the child.
If you are wondering whether there may have been a trauma in your past, the following questionnaire can help you get started. Keep in mind that these are experiences, events and situations that were permanent, or occurred repeatedly over a long period of time. These are not isolated incidents.
Based on the
ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES (ACE)
questionnaire
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Were your parents divorced?
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Was one of your primary caregivers regularly emotionally abused by another person?
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Did you regularly feel emotionally unsafe at home?
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As a child, did you often feel disliked by those who had power over you?
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Did any of your primary caregivers suffer from chronic depression?
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As a child, did you feel like there were adults you could turn to to talk about your experiences when you needed help?
THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ARE ALSO RELEVANT
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Were you born prematurely?
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​Was your birth preceded by a difficult or prolonged labor (umbilical cord around the neck, breech birth, forceps delivery)?
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Did you undergo medical procedures as a child?
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Did your mother unexpectedly become pregnant with you?
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Were you yourself seriously ill at a young age, or one of your parents?
TRAUMA CAN BE RECOGNIZED BY THE EFFECTS IT HAS ON US
These may include, depending on one's history:
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Difficulty establishing and maintaining relationships
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Difficulty facing challenges
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Difficulty knowing who to trust and who not
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Difficulty letting go of control
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Difficulty setting boundaries
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Perfectionism in appearance and performance
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Difficulty focusing, planning and organizing
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Difficulty expressing oneself freely
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Difficulty feeling close to others
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Inability to experience pleasure or positive emotions
“Knowing that our reactions are understandable is a terribly important part of beginning recovery from trauma.”
​(Bessel van der Kolk)
