When Your Child is Your PTSD Trigger (www.theestablishment.com)

Rona:

Thank YOU for commenting/sharing! It IS powerful - even now - when I have an older child.

Without a healthy baseline it's hard to parent well and with confidence. I also pulled back a lot and was anxious with almost all kinds of physical affection. I'm glad there's at least more openness now - though still not a lot. But talking helps so much with the confusion, emotions and uneasiness so many of us have or have had when it comes to being physical closeness and affection.

I always think - I know what NOT to do but I don't always know what TO do (or how to do it) instead.

Cissy

Excellent article. The more we can reduce our shame and talk about the things no one talks about, the more we can heal. I too was unsure at times  what boundaries to have regarding touch and showing affection to my babies. I pulled back at times, in fear that I would cross a boundary. It was something I never thought of talking about. I didn't understand the feelings of confusion and uncertainty until I did the hard work (many years later) regarding the inappropriate touching that I received as a child. As we now know, so much of our reactivity as a parent comes from the ways we were treated our not seen in our own childhood. 

Thank you for your courage to speak of this.

Rona