Research into trauma origins reveals that untreated trauma inhibits the capacity of the nervous system to function appropriately and also significantly alters brain chemistry. Untreated trauma is the cause of many common mental health and behavioural disorders, and can lead to addictions.

Trauma can go unrecognised and undiagnosed for years and may have its origins earlier in the development of the person. This explains why, many years later, a difficult life event can then trigger mental and physical symptoms that start to overwhelm the individual.

Attachment is related to trauma. Early attachments are vital to our development. A child’s basic need for safety, nurturing, emotional, physical and psychological care and support is paramount for her or his optimum development.

When such needs are met we have the ability to feel safe in the world, to be resilient when facing challenges and the capacity to form close and meaningful relationships and achieve our full potential. If our early life does not provide this it can leave us feeling vulnerable, unsafe and out of control. We learn to cope often using external factors such as unhealthy relationships, drugs and alcohol. The world can feel an unpredictable, overwhelming place. Our work here at Khiron House supports each individual’s inherent potential to heal and enables each person to feel less overwhelmed, more connected to themselves and others and therefore more able to cope with life.

Symptoms relating to untreated trauma and attachment problems include anxiety, depression, addictions, risk-taking behaviours, a sense of helplessness or hopelessness, obsessions, compulsivity, agoraphobia, panic, fear, irritability, guilt, shame, difficulty concentrating, mood swings, outbursts of rage or violence, poor sleep patterns, dissociation and withdrawal.

People attempting to cope with unresolved emotional and psychological trauma will often resort to self-medicating with drugs, alcohol or other substances in an effort to cope with their symptoms. They may be prone to self-harm, eg. eating disorders, sex and love addictions, compulsive spending or gambling, and/or they may be experiencing relationship problems and outbursts of anger.

Without treatment it can be very difficult to recover from the effects of unresolved trauma and its lasting impact in the body.