The following is a chapter from my book titled "Addiction"
Too many of us associate the word trauma with extreme abuse, making it difficult to recognize it in our own history. But trauma isn’t just about violence or neglect—it can be as simple as being born and experiencing the sudden shock of separation from oneness into twoness. It can be the first time we cried out and weren’t comforted, the first time we felt shame, jealousy, rejection, anger, or disrespect. As children, we were helpless in the face of these emotions, and without the right kind of guidance, we carry these wounds forward, embedding them as early emotional PTSD that shapes the way we experience life and relationships.
Now add in major abandonment, death in the family, physical or sexual abuse, controlling environments, mental cruelty, addiction, or mental illness, and you begin to see how the intensity of our early traumas gets amplified. The way we felt about our homes, our schools, and the world around us was deeply shaped by these experiences. We internalized fear, insecurity, and anxiety—often far beyond what our nervous systems were originally programmed to handle.
As we grew up, we were indoctrinated into an anxious world—one built on competition, career pressures, and consumer culture. Anxiety wasn’t just personal; it became a structural part of our existence. On top of that, we were disconnected from nature, from a basic understanding of the universe, and from a sense of purpose. Without these grounding elements, how could we not experience trauma, fear, and chronic anxiety?
The solution starts with awareness—understanding that this conditioning is real and has shaped us in ways we may not have fully acknowledged. Studying our origins, our roots, and our emotional patterns helps us recognize where our behaviors stem from and where we have the power to change.
Is it easy? No. But it is possible. Healing begins with small steps—becoming present, questioning old patterns, reconnecting with nature, and learning to regulate the nervous system. The more we consciously move through our experiences rather than being controlled by them, the more we reclaim clarity, balance, and inner peace.
