There are emotional, physiological and relational effects of early developmental and attachment trauma. Attachment trauma is often described as a disruption in the relationship between the primary caregiver and the infant. More broadly, attachment trauma is an injury within a close intimate relationship and is not just occuring during infancy and early childhood. Developmental trauma is repeated and prolonged physical, sexual, emotional abuse and/or neglect. The effects of this type of trauma can have long lasting effects on the physical, emotional and and psychological wellbeing of the individual. The causes of this are being redefined in more current literature. There is evidence to support that what is being defined as complex trauma or CPTSD can originate from these early life experiences. The adult that has experienced these early life traumas often display difficulties in emotional regulation, self-perception, executive functioning, and relationships. There are many therapeutic modalities that can be effective in helping the adult to engage in a healing journey. One approach is the NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM) developed by Dr. Lawrence Heller. This approach emphasizes five developmental themes - connection, attunement, trust, autonomy, and love. The clinician works to integrate a healthy relational orientation into the nervous system. Somatic and sensorimotor psychoeducation and awareness are emphasized. The individual can learn how to regulate their own nervous system with practices that focus on the bottom up approach - encouraging one to experience an increased mind/body connection. The identity formation that was prevented due to implicit states of fight, flight, freeze and fawn being in constant protection and reactionary mode can be explored and developed.
Developing dual awareness of the past and present through mindfulness, present moment orientation and increased success with relational connection can produce significant symptom reduction and build affective tolerance. The adult can learn appreciate their adaptive survival patterns and shift their perspective toward a present day orientation based upon a new perception of reality vs. perception. The relearning that can occur within a healthy and attuned therapeutic relationship while replacing the now ineffective beliefs that are informed by the past. Healing has to be viewed as a process and not a destination.
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