Posted by lucie lu on March 8, 2009, at 20:14:30
In reply to Re: ACOA = adult child of alcoholic(s) (trigger?) » lucie lu, posted by Dinah on March 8, 2009, at 14:08:41
I do think these sorts of qualities are inborn and related to temperament. Sensitivity, imagination, dissociability, empathy, these are all largely inherent in us to a greater or lesser degree from birth IMO. Then our experiences help to shape how these traits are expressed through our personalities. For children with healthy upbringings these traits can emerge as beneficial talents. For children in trauma-producing environments, these same traits can be put to defensive advantage. However, used in this way, they can become distorted because of how they are being used, i.e. to respond to abnormal situations. So unless relearned, these traits can become problematic later on. Dissociation is a good example, but empathic hypersensitivity is another, I think. It can be a double-edged sword.
poster:lucie lu
thread:884214
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20090227/msgs/884516.html