Trauma experiences are different for everyone but essentially it is one or more exposures that is over and above your capacity to cope.  However, as it was difficult to cope you may have dissociated which is similar to switching the mind off or a feeling of floating away.  This is when the amygdala in the brain tells you to freeze to survive.  You may also become aggressive and fight or flight by running.  Again this is when the amygdala tells you to fight or flight to survive.  These strategies are helpful at the time as they would have been your only way to cope.  However, when you continue to use these strategies when triggers occur but your current situation is actually not harmful then you need to process your trauma to heal.  

Some people use money to heal from trauma.  Flight may mean gambling to cope with the trauma symptoms to avoid noticing what you are going through.  You may have felt that money was more important than you when you were  young so waste it away as the association is negative.  You may spend money and become a hoarder as your things were either given away or as a child you felt your belongings were not valued or lived as a have not of society.  This doesn't mean for parents to buy their children whatever they want as it is important to teach them it is normal to do without sometimes but some parents may be neglectful on the abusive side and not consider their child's needs which may include giving away most toys they love.  For a child this may be traumatic.  Instead get the child to be part of the decision making. Some families are unfortunately poor and the children may grow up wanting to make up for the past by hoarding things to avoid the feeling of lack.   People may also use money to feel a sense of belonging that is not real.  However the real feeling of belonging may be too triggering as it was a traumatic experience when they were young so a superficial experience is safer.  

Noticing how you use money can help you identify your coping strategies and if they are maladaptive.  Healing from your past trauma may help you change your relationship with money.   Have a look at your bank statements which will tell a story of how you use money and then identify the reason why you are spending in such a way by finding the association between past and present.  Change your present by healing from your past and have a better relationship with money. 

Researchers have found that people who have insecure attachment styles have more worries around money, believe they are less well off, and don't deserve money.  Moreover, people who have had a loss of social connection in childhood have unhealthy thoughts around money.   People will use money to manage pain.  For example a person may build wealth for others to see them as grandiose to cover up the broken self and improve their self worth.  They may think "If I have more stuff, I will be seen as I am worth something".  If a person has a dependent attachment style as an adult they will put less effort into making money to remain dependent on others or the system.  If a person has an anxious attachment style, they will want to control their situation.  Control may include avoiding spending to make sure they are financially secure.   If a person was denied what they wanted when young may end up hoarding to avoid experiencing lack.  Additionally the higher the insecure attachment style the less transparent they will be about their finances to their partners.  As a result, healing trauma can heal how you manage money.  #trauma #money #finances #financialpsychology