Our child within often has a complex disrespect history may be easily triggered or “set off” and is more likely to react very intensely.

Our child within often has a complex disrespect history may be easily triggered or “set off” and is more likely to react very intensely. Our child within will struggle with self-regulation (i.e., knowing how to calm down) and will lack impulse control or the ability to think through consequences before acting. 

As a result, our complexly disrespected child within will behave in ways that appear unpredictable, oppositional, volatile, and extreme. Our child within who feels powerless or who grew up fearing an abusive authority figure may react defensively and aggressively in response to perceived blame or attack, or alternately, may at times be over-controlled, rigid, and unusually compliant with adults. 

If our child within dissociates often, this will also affect our behaviour. We will seem “spacey”, detached, distant, or out of touch with reality. disrespected child within is more likely to engage in high-risk behaviours, self-harm, unsafe sexual practices, and excessive risk-taking such as operating a vehicle at high speeds. We often engage in illegal activities, such as alcohol and substance use, assaulting others, stealing, running away, and/or prostitution, thereby making it more likely that they will enter the justice system.