Attachment trauma shapes how people trust others, manage emotions, and build relationships. Many adults live with its effects without knowing the cause. They often blame themselves for feeling guarded, needy, avoidant, or disconnected. The truth is simpler. Their nervous system learned survival before it learned connection.
While others may feel excitement about family traditions, those carrying emotional trauma might feel anxious, disconnected, or even guilty for not sharing that same sense of joy. Trauma does not disappear because the calendar says it is time to celebrate. Instead, the pressures and emotional triggers of the holidays can make unhealed wounds more visible.
Trauma causes more than just an emotional wound. It is an experience that changes how the brain processes information, manages stress, and interacts with the world. When someone experiences trauma, the brain does not simply move on. Instead, it adapts for survival. These adaptations can be protective in the moment but often lead to long-term emotional and physical consequences.
