Healing from Trauma in Your Senior Years

Posted On December 6, 2025

I have broached this subject before but it deserves a repeat from a different angle. I turned 65 last September and have only now really felt my age and that I’m getting older.

 

In this piece, we shall explore together aging well especially having survived childhood trauma

 

Aging Well?

 

The definition of aging well is that it encompasses maintaining physical, emotional, and mental health through practicing healthy habits and having a positive outlook on life.

 

What these people are able to do is to attend social events without feeling odd and think of themselves as perfectly normal. People who are aging well are both are not afraid of living a positive life and they are not afraid of their demise.

 

However, childhood trauma changes the course of lives leaving them having problems they did not deserve and did not cause. We tend to avoid others and have a lot of problems with social get-togethers. I know that I personally tend to be a loner and have only online friends. I am exhausted if I am forced to attend a party or meeting.

 

Trauma and Aging

 

Childhood trauma can be defined as living through a series of harmful or frightening events where we were helpless and hopeless. The lasting effects of childhood trauma in adults is palpable. Many live with mental health disorders and physical ailments all related back to when they were young.

 

Not only that, but sixty to sixty-four percent of people living in the United States will experience childhood trauma; a staggering number. In the case of us who have dissociative identity disorder, we have survived multiple childhood traumatic events.

 

As we age, we tend to isolate and hold in our emotions making us vulnerable to depression and even suicide. Many of us who have dissociative identity disorder do not age well unless we are able to overcome what happened to us. Unfortunately, doing so requires walking through the turbulent and deep waters of healing.

 

 

Healing from Trauma at Any Age

 

The trauma you experienced as a child has long-lasting consequences for you and your life. Instead of developing trust and getting the love and attention you deserved, you were met with anger and abuse.

Did you know you can move on with your life and be happy? Happiness depends on letting what happened to you go into the past where it belongs. What happened to you when you were a child was awful and you may never forgive person or people who hurt you; but can your anger and feelings of revenge change what happened? You don’t have to forgive; you only need to choose not to live with them in your head any longer.

We who have experienced abuse as children can and will overcome the effects of abuse on our lives. Below are five steps you can use to heal. They don’t have to be in any certain order.

Share Your Experiences with Someone. The person you pick could be a friend, your doctor, or a therapist. Personally, I went to a therapist to sort out my past. Many people have already tried this step and have had bad experiences. Don’t judge all therapists by the actions of one. Try again until you find a good fit.

Get Grounded. Getting grounded in the now is perhaps the most important thing you will do during your healing process. You can use any number of techniques to help you remain in the here and now. One is to use something relaxing such as yoga or mindfulness exercises. If you find yourself stuck in a flashback, put a piece of ice in your hand. Your brain will suddenly become grounded to your icy cold hand and release you from your flashback.

Remember What Happened to You. This step is both dangerous and necessary. Memories that aren’t remembered cannot be released into the past where they belong. This step is dangerous because stirring up what you remember can make you more than uncomfortable, it can cause you to fall into the hold and think suicidal thoughts. It is for this reason that you will need professional help of some kind. Don’t be afraid, there is something going to happen that will make all the tears and fear worth it.

When you remember something from your past it disappears into the past. What I means is you still remember that memory but it isn’t in your now, it is part of your then.

Of course, there is more to it. You must wrestle with the memory but in the end, if you don’t give up, that memory will become part of who you were, not who you are now.

Self-Acceptance. After all the turmoil of remembering what you went through, you will feel different about yourself. Suddenly you find yourself having more self-respect and dignity. You will no longer be led around by the nose by the trauma of your past. It is time to accept who you are and what your potential. Sure, you may be an older adult, but it is never to late to recognize your abilities or improve your relationships with friends.

Loving Yourself. This part always brings me comments because many people don’t love themselves and cannot see that not loving yourself traps you but it does. Loving yourself begins with self-talk. Remind yourself that you are a good person and deserve the best you can have in your twilight years. Look in the mirror and repeat the same message. Say out loud that you love you, no matter how strange that may feel.

What Happens After You Let Your Past Go?

As a person who has experienced childhood trauma I know what it feels like to heal from what happened to me so long ago. I can say that I am happy and more in control of my life than ever before. Sure, I have days where I feel depressed but it is mainly from me making bad decisions. I have learned to claim responsibility for my actions even when an alter sneaks up to the front.

 

I have dissociative identity disorder and healing, at least for me, doesn’t include fully integrating my others. Indeed, I don’t think that is possible. It means that I am fronting most of the time and that all myselves have learned to work together like a well-oiled orchestra.

 

The chaos has ended. I no longer am a prisoner of my past. You can be at this point in your healing journey. I know because I believe in you.

 

Ending Our Time Together

 

As I age I am realizing that a good portion of my life was stolen from me. Yet, I am able to accept that fact because I can’t change it, hell, not even God can change it. Understanding deep down where it counts that I can rescue myself as a child through my imagination is freeing.

My life has changed quite a bit. Now I have some health conditions that are going to bring about my demise; however, I have accepted that and the symptoms of DID as just part of who I am. No, I didn’t say I liked them, only that I know I can make the best of what time I have left.

In the meantime, I write posts to offer hope and to share what I have learned. Dissociative identity disorder is not a death sentence, nor should it rule your life. Please, take steps to heal. It will be a long and arduous journey, but trust me, there is life after childhood trauma.

Growing older after childhood trauma can be a bit chaotic but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Rise Again

Written by AI

From long shadows and memories deep,

You have traveled far, awake from sleep.

The echoes of pain in the silent night,

Yet here you stand, bathed in gentle light.

Your courage is fierce, your heart is strong,

You’ve carried burdens, suffered wrong.

But hope is a seed that grows within,

Through every storm, you rise again.

For every tear that fell unheard,

Know you are seen, your voice preferred.

The scars you bear are marks of grace,

Proof of the battles you faced with faith.

Let healing winds find you where you are,

Remind you daily: you are a star.

The past may whisper, but you decide

To walk in strength, with love as guide.

So take each step, both bold and new,

The world awaits the gift of you.

Survivor, dreamer, your spirit true—

This life is yours, and you will breakthrough.