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Psychological Age Regression
When Trauma Keeps Us Stuck and Our Impact on Relationships
I’ve spent most of my life observing the childlike behaviors of adults. Even as a kid, I would catch glimpses of actions and comments from adults that felt off somehow, though I couldn’t yet put words to what I was witnessing. These observations followed me into my teenage years and then into young adulthood when I finally began learning the names and meanings behind these behaviors.
Recently, someone sent me a video discussing women in the context of age regression, and out of curiosity, I started digging into the concept. The descriptions sounded all too familiar; I’ve seen this regressive behavior time and time again — in both women and men.
Psychological age regression, a term often discussed in psychology and trauma recovery, occurs when individuals mentally or emotionally remain in a childlike state due to unresolved trauma. According to Dr. Alice Miller, a renowned psychoanalyst and trauma expert, traumatic experiences can stifle emotional growth, causing people to rely on childlike coping mechanisms in adulthood. These ingrained responses can shape relationships and affect how individuals perceive themselves and others, leaving them vulnerable to unhealthy relationship patterns.
