Having a history of childhood trauma can sometimes feel like a life sentence. You don’t have to look far to find articles and research that describe the impacts of adverse childhood experiences on a person’s body, mental health, and relationships.

Growing up, I didn’t know that the violence and neglect I experienced was trauma. Like many survivors, I didn’t have any context for the terror, pain, and grief I felt day-to-day. I had no concept of the scars those experiences might leave on my psyche or how they might influence my future. It wasn’t until I left home, found safety, and began to heal that I understood the scale of it all.

When I first started my healing process in my 20s, I worried that adult relationships might be hard to navigate. How could I trust new people when the people I trusted the most growing up caused so much harm? I thought my past would contaminate any friendships and romantic relationships I pursued.

Thankfully, the adverse experiences I had in childhood haven’t kept me from enjoying life as an adult. Through

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