Often, those who struggle with an addiction have experienced trauma at some point in life, preventing psychological development that reflects their physical development. In other words, adult addicts may have grown up and appear as though they are in their 30’s, 40’s, or 50’s, but on the inside the inner child holds the strings to their emotional life.
To give you a clearer picture, below is a list of six characteristics adults living their lives as children tend to have:
- React to life with a mindset of “survival”. Perhaps an early trauma or a series of traumas in childhood, which were never resolved, keeps an adult possessing this worldview. Survival was the main goal of childhood, and it remains to be so in adulthood as well.
- Possess feelings that they are not “normal” and they are forever convincing the rest of the world that they are.
- Tend to have an all or nothing, black or white kind of filter.
- Can be incredibly judgmental of themselves and of others.
- Tend to be always searching for validation from external sources rather than believing in themselves or having a strong sense of self worth.
- Have great difficulty maintaining intimate relationships.