Trauma survivor struggles to cope

DEAR AMY >> I have recently been reliving a trauma from my childhood on a daily basis. Along with this, I have been remembering other occurrences of this same trauma.

My father is a child molester, and an abusive alcoholic.

This trauma from my childhood led to trichotillomania, which has gotten worse, despite the fact that I have pursued therapy (off and on) for years.

My problem is, now that I have admitted what occurred, how do I fully move past it?

Do I bring it up with my sisters? We aren’t a family to share things. We are more a family to shove something deep down inside or sweep it under the rug.

I feel like there is a missing component, but I don’t know what it is.

I would greatly appreciate a second opinion. I would like to move...

— From Trauma to Triumph

DEAR TRIUMPH >> Our experience of dislocation and isolation during the pandemic has brought on some attendant issues and if, like many, you have stopped pursuing your therapeutic mental health treatment, you will lack supportive or familiar ways to cope.

Trichotillomania is a disorder characterized by obsessive and repetitive hair pulling. This can lead to hair loss and bald spots. Some people also pull at their eye lashes or eyebrows.

This is a form of selfharm. The stress and anxiety of experiencing your childhood trauma — and holding it in — is causing you to literally pull your hair out, which may actually bring some temporary relief from your pain and anxiety.

My first recommendation is that if you are currently in an “off” mode, you must revive your therapy. You don’t say whether you have disclosed your childhood trauma to your therapist (I assume you have). Because you are ruminating and reviving your memories on a daily basis, it’s time to go back (virtually, if necessary), because your body and your mind are telling you something new.

In my opinion, the “missing component” you are wondering about is the choice you face about disclosing this to your sisters.

Just guessing here, but do you think that what happened to you might have also happened to them?

Understand that if your family always sweeps problems or concerns under the rug, your choice to talk about it could be extremely upsetting to others. They might deny, blame, and shame you — not because this trauma is your fault, but because you have chosen to talk about it. This is one of the burdens of being a survivor.

Surviving — even scarred and wounded — is the triumph. You’ve already done that, and you will continue to, as long as you devote yourself to your own recovery.

DEAR AMY >> The “morbidly obese sister” whose “typeA” sister (“Concerned”) was so worried about helping sounds like a perfect candidate for Overeaters Anonymous.

— OA Believer