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Post by stampbooker on Mar 1, 2019 21:14:34 GMT
Or maybe a teenage girl? I often have these moments that I feel like I am a young girl, or teenager. I am wondering if this is a normal, common experience or something unusual and maybe related to childhood trauma.
I was trying to think how I could describe the experience, but coming up blank right now. However I figure if others have the same feeling they would know what I am talking about!
Thanks for your input!
Julie
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rickmer
Pearl Clutcher
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Jul 1, 2014 20:20:18 GMT
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Post by rickmer on Mar 1, 2019 21:27:32 GMT
umm, maybe sometimes. if i don't feel safe (dark, underground parking garage, etc) i think i sometimes do feel much younger than my late 40s. or if confronted with a situation i have never experienced before and am at a loss what to logically do next.
i do know i can't believe i am *in* my mid-40s (how did that happen?) but not sure that is what you mean.
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paget
Drama Llama
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Jun 25, 2014 21:16:39 GMT
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Post by paget on Mar 1, 2019 21:28:53 GMT
Not little or teenage bit I think of myself as late 20s/early 30s I think. In actuality I will be 48 in July.
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Deleted
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Sept 20, 2024 22:23:39 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2019 21:30:27 GMT
I'm not exactly sure what you mean by 'feel like you are still a little girl' but I often feel a lot younger than other people my age. Maybe not having children does that? I still have a childlike wonder over silly little things.
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Post by 950nancy on Mar 1, 2019 21:54:06 GMT
No, but I feel like a fourteen year old boy wrapped in the wisdom of a fifty year old lady.
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librarygirl
Shy Member
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Sept 2, 2014 19:19:49 GMT
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Post by librarygirl on Mar 1, 2019 22:02:19 GMT
Yes. =(
I understand this feeling.
I experienced a traumatic event at a young age. My councilor explained that this type of feeling, the not growing up, was my brains way of trying to self preserve. On the inside, I feel like I am at the age before there was any abuse. I don't know if I will ever feel normal age, whatever that feels like. I will be 50 next week.
It IS hard to explain. I just wrote 3 long paragraphs that I deleted because it reads like I should be in a mental hospital. I'm normal on the outside. I did all the things that most of us do as we grow up. And I didn't just go through the motions, I wanted to do all these things. I got married, had kids, have a house, work full time, etc.. I am a fully functioning adult. But my brain is stuck in the timeframe of me being a child. Like I shouldn't ever have been allowed to do any of these things.
So yes, I understand how this feels.
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MaryMary
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Post by MaryMary on Mar 1, 2019 22:09:59 GMT
I also relate to this feeling and it is result of childhood trauma. I remember in college saying to my friend, “I feel like deep down I’m really just a four-year-old, don’t you?” And she was like, “Uhhh, no. Not at all.” I remember being really embarrassed by that, like... dang it. There’s something wrong with me.
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Post by myshelly on Mar 1, 2019 22:12:26 GMT
All the time.
I constantly feel like I’m playing house, as opposed to being an adult with a house.
I kind of like it, though.
Keeps me from feeling old/boring.
I don’t have any childhood trauma.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Sept 20, 2024 22:23:39 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2019 22:20:02 GMT
I'm constantly surprised that I am pretty much the same as I was as a little girl. Old people seemed so different when I was younger and now I realize they are not.
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Post by gigi333 on Mar 1, 2019 22:20:34 GMT
Yep
My mother is quite abusive
I’m a weird mix of confident and terrified depending on the situation, and if there is someone I can lean on, I do
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Post by padresfan619 on Mar 1, 2019 22:22:46 GMT
I do sometimes have moments where I think “Oh wow I’m married and have a mortgage.” Like who allowed me to grow up? But I don’t feel like a child.
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PrettyInPeank
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Jun 25, 2014 21:31:58 GMT
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Post by PrettyInPeank on Mar 1, 2019 22:23:21 GMT
I've never felt like a child or teenager, but I have stopped occasionally and thought, holy crap, *I* am the adult in charge here. How did this happen!? 😂
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Post by leftturnonly on Mar 1, 2019 22:38:05 GMT
I'm really sorry for all y'all who were stymied by something terrible that happened to you when you were young. I think it's perfectly normal to still remember what that felt like and to feel like your life hasn't progressed very far from that point.
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Post by mustlovecats on Mar 1, 2019 22:45:14 GMT
I’ll be honest I don’t... i barely remember what childhood felt like, and I don’t know what I felt like when I was a little girl. I remember things about growing up but they feel very long ago to me now.
I feel like an adult... I feel pretty solid and responsible and settled. I still feel creative, I feel excited to learn things, I just don’t feel like a little girl.
I do still sometimes feel like someone better at being an adult should be in charge though... some days I think maybe I have too many things I’m responsible for and just want to hand over the keys!
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Post by disneypal on Mar 1, 2019 22:49:38 GMT
Not little or teenage bit I think of myself as late 20s/early 30s I'm kind of like that too and I mentioned it to my mom (who is in her 70s) and she said she feels like that too.
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Post by tmarschall on Mar 1, 2019 22:53:17 GMT
I'm not exactly sure what you mean by 'feel like you are still a little girl' but I often feel a lot younger than other people my age. Maybe not having children does that? I still have a childlike wonder over silly little things. I am 49 but feel 36 or so... I agree about not having children. I think I am at a different stage of life than my chronological peers. It is evening out a bit now that more my age are becoming empty nesters finally.
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scorpeao
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Post by scorpeao on Mar 1, 2019 23:08:05 GMT
At family gatherings or when I'm being lectured whether it be at work or home. Also, my partner is a lot like my step dad...not a very communicator. He will ice me out instead of telling me what I did wrong. Sometimes that makes me feel like I'm a little kid again.
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Post by refugeepea on Mar 1, 2019 23:09:49 GMT
I'm the youngest in my family. I sometimes feel like I'm not treated like an adult or my ideas or dismissed. Actually feeling young, physically great, and care free? Never.
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Post by tracyarts on Mar 1, 2019 23:36:30 GMT
No, but I don't feel any different at age 48 than I felt at age 25.
I wonder if other middle aged people feel "middle aged" and it's something wrong with me. I get reminded of how old I am and think "holy shit, how can I be middle aged when I feel 25?"
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Post by refugeepea on Mar 1, 2019 23:38:28 GMT
I wonder if other middle aged people feel "middle aged" and it's something wrong with me I feel 50 and I'm 40. For me, it's my physical issues and big issues over the last 10 years. I don't think there's anything wrong with you.
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Post by mellowyellow on Mar 1, 2019 23:40:45 GMT
Yes, I know exactly what you mean. I still feel like a little kid due to the emotional and verbal abuse of my father. I wasn’t allowed to have an opinion and every aspect of my life was dictated and controlled by him. I’m 48 years old. 😕
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julie5
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Post by julie5 on Mar 1, 2019 23:43:06 GMT
I feel like I’m emotionally stunted which has definitely affected my daily life. Sometimes I feel like my kids are more mature thAn me.
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kelly8875
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Oct 26, 2014 17:02:56 GMT
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Post by kelly8875 on Mar 1, 2019 23:45:41 GMT
Well, probably not in the sense you’re talking about. But as my kids get older, and my situations in life, I have so much more free time now, even compared to 4 years ago. I sometimes don’t know what to do, and have to remind myself I’m not a kid anymore and I can do whatever I want.
I made sure my kids always ate good, got where they needed, etc. Now, I can eat whatever I want for dinner, and don’t have to drive them anywhere. It’s just weird to have the free time like when I was in my teens/early twenties.
The good news is I’m only 43, and my baby is a senior in high school. Years and years of free time ahead!
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Post by Zee on Mar 1, 2019 23:47:45 GMT
Not in a way that equals being unconfident but in a way that still enjoys life and dolls and animals and tiny things and nature, yes. I'm fairly strong and confident, I was raised to be self-reliant and that being brave and smart was the best thing I could be. I was taught to solve my own problems from teachers to other kids to whatever. I didn't always get the emotional nurturing I wanted but I think I turned out strong (after a few missteps) and I'm happy with myself. I raised my kids the same way only with more making sure they knew they were loved by both parents--they thank me all the time as they are beginning their own adult lives. I'm sorry for all who hurt inside
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leeny
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Post by leeny on Mar 1, 2019 23:55:50 GMT
Not particularly however I feel younger than where I am now, in my late 50's.
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Post by stampbooker on Mar 2, 2019 2:55:56 GMT
Thank you all for your thoughts, it is very helpful! The next time I have those feelings, I am going to really concentrate and try to verbalize (or journal) how I feel and what is causing the feelings.
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Post by quinlove on Mar 2, 2019 3:10:14 GMT
I'm constantly surprised that I am pretty much the same as I was as a little girl. Old people seemed so different when I was younger and now I realize they are not. ^^^^ This. I think we are close in age. For years I was a responsible mother/ adult. Now I’m a care-free grandma.
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Post by pierkiss on Mar 2, 2019 12:54:04 GMT
Yes I often feel this way. And yes there was a trauma that 1st occurred around age 10.
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katybee
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Jun 25, 2014 23:25:39 GMT
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Post by katybee on Mar 2, 2019 17:24:09 GMT
For sure. My mom used to tell me that she always felt like a little girl/teenager… Even as she got older. I can completely relate to that.
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Post by twistedscissors on Mar 2, 2019 18:53:14 GMT
Some of you mentioned childhood trauma, I was abused as a child. Sometimes I feel like I crave attention/love/approval like a small child. So I understand saying you feel like a child.
Other times I feel like I’m the only adult around. I am the responsible person that takes care of every detail of everything. It would be nice to have parents to do things for you like when you were a child.
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