h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Think of some people, famous or otherwise, who had traumatic childhoods and are not OK now.
Now think of some some who are OK.
You can almost guarantee that the first list will be longer than the second. Whether it's truly the parents' "fault" or not, those who have disturbed childhoods are likely to be damaged in later life.

As a child, I was exposed to an individual who was detrimental to my mental and physical health. I never recieved counseling or never even told my parents and am fine today. It truly depends on who the person is. I know that my experience would break many people, and, while it hasn't caused any serious, lasting problems, I do have trouble relating to people who can do nothing but whine about how terrible their lives are. I also do have insecurities and dislike getting close to anyone. I suppose I'm an exception to many rules.

Being an exception's great! Good for you.

they really need a smiley...

you should recommend it, it's a good idea!

brilliance...*buffs fingernails*

I think its dodgy how often a traumatic childhood is used to explain an action. It may contribute to it, but we have (or seem to have) free will. A traumatic childhood is one of the reasons why something is done, not an excuse.

*agrees* That's true, sometimes people use having a bad childhood as excuses for messing up later. But it can't be denied that often it's a cause, or at least part of a cause.

Too many people use it as a crutch. It can permanently screw you up, but a person shouldn't use it as a reason why they do anything.

That's also true, but then you think of people who ARE screwed up by it all and have no idea, or deny that they are. Also: some people, the way they're brought up they can be traumatised by it but not know any other way, they think it's normal until some point when they realise not everyone's so unhappy...then all hell breaks loose. (I know of someone that happened to.)

I don't know that you can judge how something terrible has affected anyone really. People are so different from each other and it all depends on how that person chooses to react to it in the present, past, and future.

True... but it's also true that people can react in very unhealthy ways to the event/events

The first two years after my experience, I was an emotional and physical wreck. You just have to learn to live with it. You might not ever get over it, but you have to appreciate it. The problem is that some people never learn to deal with whatever happened to them.

Yuh, some people can't see past what happened, can't move on.
If you don't mind me asking, how did you deal with it?

I have never really dealt with it. I just avoid it. When I was littler, it was easier, because I wasn't forced to build relationships, it's become more of a problem recently. I spend a lot of time outside (swamps, creek, river) just thinking and occassionally having a good wail. I spend the entire summer with my gramma where I don't have talk to anyone. I have a journal where I write pages and pages and pages (658 as of last night <bows&gt. That helps, but it is better to talk to someone. I don't trust anyone enough to talk to them and telling my parents would hurt them more than it hurts me.

658! That's very impressive. I write but not nearly as much as that. However my sister claims she can tell how miserable I am by how much I write ... the more I write the sadder I am.
What happened?
I can see that's a bit of a dumb thing to ask. But if you feel like talking about it then it's fine.

I tend to go off on philosophical tangents about religion and stupid people when I write. If you read my journal, you'd think I lived an absolutely rotten life.

Well, it's easier to talk to people you don't know, but not on open boards where people I know can read it.

Tangents are cool, I go off on them constantly... Oh look a tree! (See??)
whatever you feel comfortable with. I'm not trying to force you to confess everything!

Trees? Wait a minute, you mean the mold growing on my science project. Wait a minute, that's not MY science project...Anyway, what were we talking about?

See what I mean about tangents???
"Oh look a tree" is what you say when you're embarrassed or want to change a subject quickly. Invented by Feuille.