KEY POINTS
- Viewing anxious behaviors through a trauma-informed lens teaches us that there is usually a reason for them.
- Developing an understanding of our anxious behaviors can show us that there is nothing "wrong" with us.
- Learning not to take things personally can help us understand loved ones with the same traits.
- While having one or two of these behaviors is probably normal, if you find you can relate to most or all of them, they might point to anxiety.
All people have peculiar behaviors. Sometimes they are not weird at all to us, yet may appear odd to an outside observer. While many behaviors are just, well, human, sometimes they can be due to anxiety.
Some of the stereotypical traits of anxiety include nervousness, fear of speaking in public, or fear of being in crowds. But many forms of anxiety are not as obvious, such as with people who actually prefer being in a crowd, yet dread a 1-on-1 coffee meetup. No matter their level of recognition, many anxious behaviors may be linked to some experiences of childhood trauma. Research has demonstrated a link between childhood trauma and many symptoms of anxiety, finding that our experiences in childhood often lead to behavior manifestations present well into adulthood.
To read more of Kaytee Gillis, LCSW-BACS, please click here.
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