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Sue Monk lived in a small town in Georgia. She graduated college with a B.S. degree in nursing at Texas Christian University. She has 2 children with her husband Sandy Kidd who was a church minister. She grew up in Georgia where her book "Secret Life of Bees" was influenced.  "Secret life of bees" was her first novel she published. The book became very popular and won many awards. Interestingly she came up with the idea and contents by making a collage of different images to help her prep her work. Examples; a pink house, a trio of African Americans women and a wailing wall. Her nursing career helped the book develop a more deep connection to faith.

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Sue Monk Kidd was raised in the small town of Sylvester, Georgia, a place that deeply influenced the writing of her first novel The Secret Life of Bees. She graduated from Texas Christian University in 1970 and later took creative writing courses at Emory University and Anderson College, as well as studying at Sewanee, Bread Loaf, and other writers conferences. In 2016, TCU conferred on her an honorary doctor of letters degree.

Her book When the Heart Waits, published by Harper SanFrancisco in 1990 has become a touchstone on contemplative spirituality. In 1996, Harper published The Dance of the Dissident Daughter, describing Kidd's journey into feminist theology, a memoir that had a groundbreaking effect within religious circles.

In her forties, Kidd turned her attention to writing fiction, winning the South Carolina Fellowship in Literature and the 1996 Poets & Writers Exchange Program in Fiction. Her short stories appeared in TriQuarterly, Nimrod, and other literary journals and received a Katherine Anne Porter award and citations in Best American Short Stories ' 100 Distinguished Stories.

When her first novel, The Secret Life of Bees, was published by Viking in 2002, it became a genuine literary phenomenon, spending more than 2½ years on the New York Times bestseller list. It has been translated into 36 languages and sold more than 8 million copies worldwide. Bees was named the Book Sense Paperback Book of the Year in 2004, long-listed for the 2002 Orange Prize in England, and won numerous awards. For over a decade, the novel was produced on stage by The American Place Theater, and in 2008 it was adapted into a movie by Fox Searchlight, which won the People's Choice award for best movie and the NAACP Image award for best picture. The 2019 off-broadway production at The Atlantic Theater won the AUDELCO VIV award for best musical. The novel is taught widely in middle school, high school, and college classrooms.

Kidd's second novel, The Mermaid Chair, has sold well over a million copies since its publication by Viking in 2005, reaching #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and remaining on the hardcover and paperback lists for nine months. Winner of the 2005 Quill Award for General Fiction, the novel was longlisted for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, translated into 24 languages, and made into a television movie by Lifetime.

The spiritual essays, meditations, and inspirational stories Kidd wrote in her thirties were collected into a single volume, Firstlight: The Early Inspiration Writings and published by Guideposts Books in 2006 and Penguin in 2007.

After traveling with her daughter, Ann Kidd Taylor, to sacred sites in Greece, Turkey, and France, Kidd and Taylor co-authored a memoir, Traveling with Pomegranates: A Mother-Daughter Story. Published by Viking in 2009, it appeared on numerous bestseller lists, including the New York Times list and has been published in several languages.

The Invention of Wings, Kidd's third novel was published in 2014 by Viking to wide critical acclaim. It debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list where it spent a total of 9 months. It has sold over a million copies and been translated into over 20+ languages thus far. The novel has won several literary awards, including the Florida Book of Year Award and the SIBA Book Award. It was also nominated for the International Dublin Literary Award and was chosen for Oprah's Book Club 2.0.

Kidd's much anticipated novel, The Book of Longings, was published April 21, 2020.

Kidd serves on the Writers Council for Poets & Writers, Inc. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, Sandy, and dog, Barney.

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Sue Monk Kidd was raised in the small town of Sylvester, Georgia, a place that deeply influenced the writing of her first novel The Secret Life of Bees . She graduated from Texas Christian University in 1970 and later took creative writing courses at Emory University and Anderson College, as well as studying at Sewanee, Bread Loaf, and other writers conferences.

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Overall childhood trauma effects almost everyones health, mainly mentally but also physically. Overtime your nervous system gets confused. Using your fight or flight neurons when needed turns into a constant fear using fight or flight. This leads to developing cancer or diseases. We now know and understand how early adversity affects the developing brains and bodies of children.

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How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime

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Childhood trauma isn’t something you just get over as you grow up. Pediatrician Nadine Burke Harris explains that the repeated stress of abuse, neglect and parents struggling with mental health or substance abuse issues has real, tangible effects on the development of the brain. This unfolds across a lifetime, to the point where those who’ve experienced high levels of trauma are at triple the risk for heart disease and lung cancer. An impassioned plea for pediatric medicine to confront the prevention and treatment of trauma, head-on.

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Over coming childhood trauma is a very important step in anyones direction to live life to the fullest. Ideas to help push you past hard times can include establishing healthy relationships, recognizing the trauma and being patient with yourself. Always reaching out for help is a good option. self-criticism and guilt is something that is common through many adults that have lived with childhood trauma and with the correct mindset anyone can get over.

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6 types of childhood trauma

Physical or sexual abuse

This kind of trauma can cause not only physical damage to the child but also psychological damage that can last for years after it happened. Physical abuse includes any kind of physical violence against a child. It's sometimes masked as a "discipline measure" by many adults. Sometimes, it can come hand-in-hand with substance abuse.

Sexual abuse can mean the child experiences direct sexual acts. But sexual abuse doesn't always have to include the child. It can also occur when a child witnesses a sexual act at a very early age.

For example, some examples of sexual abuse include:

A child experiencing their parents' sexual intercourse

A child witnessing another adult acting in a sexual manner

A child witnessing pornography

Sexual assault

Childhood abuse and child maltreatment have significant impacts on their overall well-being.

Sudden death due to murder or suicide

Unfortunately, some children have to experience the loss of a loved one or family member at a young age. However, when this death is due to murder or suicide, the experience can become very traumatic for them.

A murder can lead to trauma at any age. It's an especially traumatic event if the child witnessed the murder or suicide. But it can also be extremely traumatic if the child knows the detailed story.

On the other hand, a loved one dying by suicide can leave a very deep wound in a child, especially if this person was a parent or caregiver. In these situations, the usual predominant emotions are anger and guilt. A person might ask questions or think things like: Why did this person choose to leave me? I could have done something to prevent this.

Kidnapping

This is an incredibly traumatic and terrible experience for anyone to have, but even more so for a child. Children do not have the tools and ability to protect themselves on their own. They rely on adults and caregivers for protection and safety. Imagine knowing this as a child, and being kidnapped and held hostage, with a sense of uncertainty, fear, and feeling unsafe.

Violence in their household

This happens when the child is exposed to a violent environment at home. This can include physical abuse towards the child but that's not always the case. For example, a child could witness domestic violence between parents, siblings, or other adults. A child could also be a victim of the violence, but it's not always necessarily the case. Either way, this type of trauma has a definite impact on a child.

I like to call neglect the "invisible trauma." Neglect is by no means less important (quite the opposite, in fact). But because it is often difficult to identify this as a traumatic experience, it isn't as evident as other kinds of trauma.

This can include acts such these:

Very often, neglect by itself doesn't imply violence or physical damage. Usually, it's much more indirect and normalized by the children who experience it. However, because this is so difficult to identify, it can become a very deep-rooted trauma that can influence a person's mental health later in life.

4 ways to recognize childhood trauma in adults

Depending on the kind of early childhood trauma, different symptoms or health problems may be experienced. However, common effects of trauma may include some of them below.

Difficulty establishing healthy relationships

Adults who are healing from childhood trauma usually learn to interact with others in unhealthy ways. Sometimes, these interactions result in certain relational behaviors. These will depend on the kind of trauma they have experienced and what they have learned about others through this early life experience.

For example, if a person has child trauma due to neglect in their childhood, they may feel like they aren't deserving of other people's affection. This pattern develops because that is what they were led to believe when they were younger, oftentimes by family members or loved ones.

As a result, this person may stay in relationships where they are mistreated and neglected by their partner. They won't look for a different relationship because they feel like they don't deserve it.

Hyper-vigilance

This is a human reaction for those who have experienced trauma. Hyper-vigilance consists of feeling constantly threatened. For example, it could be the fear of being attacked or trapped at any moment. Oftentimes, this is when an adult becomes very aware of their surroundings when in a new environment. For example, they could be hyper-vigilant when meeting a new person. They could also be hyper-vigilant in physical spaces or situations. Either way, this reaction is a result of childhood trauma.

Depression and anxiety

Apart from other mental health risk factors, people can also experience depression and/or anxiety as a result of childhood trauma. These two disorders usually appear hand-in-hand and can make the person feel hopeless and isolated. If you're struggling with depression or anxiety, you should consult the help of mental health professional.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder. PTSD occurs when an individual is exposed to a traumatizing event. According to the DSM, it's considered to be an anxiety disorder. People who have PTSD often have flashbacks of the trauma and are so distressed by their triggers that they go to significant lengths to avoid them. This comes with more symptoms of its own, such as changes in mood, flashbacks, nightmares, and panic attacks.

3 steps to help overcome childhood trauma

The effects of childhood trauma may seem like they can't be cured. But with the right approach, you can overcome childhood trauma and learn to cope.

1. Recognize the trauma

The adult must acknowledge this certain childhood experience as trauma. It's this first step of coming to terms with how the trauma has affected them - and accepting that it's OK. This will help them give meaning to their current difficulties and make sense of their struggles.

2. Be patient with yourself

Self-criticism and guilt can be very common when it comes to adults who have lived through a traumatic childhood. Some people may ask: Why do I act this way? What's wrong with me? I could have dealt with this in a better way. These thought patterns can lead to hopelessness and frustration.

The key here is to stop and think: you were not responsible for what happened. Your childhood trauma has left a scar - and you're trying your best to heal. But just like all wounds, it's important to take the time to heal correctly. Be patient and loving with yourself. Treat yourself like you would a best friend.

3. Reach out for help

Rely on loved ones for emotional support and understanding. In these cases, one of the key components is feeling heard, understood, and validated.

Especially with childhood trauma, one can often feel alone and isolated. It's common to feel like no one will understand or empathize. But in reality, this couldn't be further from the truth. If we give people the chance, they can become a great support system for us.

We must not forget the importance of seeking help from a mental health professional who is trained in trauma treatment. A clinician can help heal these deep wounds to improve relationships. They can also help identify unhealthy patterns and coping mechanisms - and improve your mental fitness.

6 types of therapy for childhood trauma

The events that occur to us in our childhood can cause a huge impact on our adult life. Usually, as time goes by, we reject those memories and bury them as if they have never happened. However, that's not a healthy coping mechanism.

There are several types of adulthood therapy to help treat childhood trauma.

Cognitive behavioral therapy

This approach in therapy aims at finding the connection between our behaviors and our thoughts and feelings. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on the current problems and symptoms of the patient.

Our thoughts and feelings are connected to our behavior. Because of that, it can make us develop behavioral patterns that are dysfunctional in our daily routine. Over time, these behaviors impact our developing relationships.

Our brain creates patterns that help us survive. As humans, we specialize in creating patterns to help reduce pain. However, those patterns are often not the best long-term strategy. To make an analogy, when somebody is wounded, making a tourniquet can make them survive enough time to be treated at a hospital. But that tourniquet is not the best nor the definitive solution for that wound.

All in all, CBT will help you obtain a healthier and more balanced thinking pattern.

Psychodynamic therapy

Different from the cognitive-behavioral approach, this therapy focuses on the unconscious mind. Psychodynamic therapy tries to understand the meaning of the trauma and where the patient may be stuck within it.

In order to do that the therapist focuses on the impact trauma has had on the patient and on their relationships. This includes emphasizing childhood experiences and current relationships. Through this practice, the patient can understand what coping mechanisms are taking a role in the patient's life.

Like cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy aims at changing behaviors. It's the method to reaching that objective that differentiates the two therapy styles.

Cognitive processing therapy (CPT)

Cognitive processing therapy is a specific type of cognitive-behavioral therapy. It focuses on understanding the trauma. Using psycho-education, this therapy raises awareness of the relationship between thoughts and emotions. Using psycho-education, this therapy aims at raising awareness of the relationship between thoughts and emotions. It also helps identify automatic thoughts.

This therapy will help you identify patterns of unhelpful thinking. It will also help you evaluate and modify those thoughts and beliefs that the circumstances of the trauma have generated in you. The idea of this therapy is that if you can change what you think, you can change how you feel.

Narrative exposure therapy (NET)

This treatment for trauma aims at building a chronological narrative. It essentially looks at the patient's biography by focusing on the traumatic events. With professional help, the person will reconstruct the traumatic events. But alongside the traumatic life events, the person will also reconstruct the positive events.

This allows for a thoughtful reflection upon their life as a whole. It can help to develop a sense of identity and reduce the pain that accompanies those memories.

Prolonged exposure therapy

This is a kind of cognitive-behavioral therapy that is often used and very effective when treating PTSD. This is an effective and ideal therapy style when addressing childhood trauma.

Prolonged exposure therapy can include in vivo exposure, imaginal exposure, or a combination of both.

Imaginal exposure: On the other hand, imaginal exposure involves gradually exposing the patient to memories of the traumatic events in order to reduce their negative impact. This helps to reduce PTSD symptoms.

Vivo exposure: This consists of gradually exposing the patient to stimuli that remind them of the trauma. Vivo exposure helps to awaken PTSD symptoms.

With both kinds of exercises, the final goal is to reduce their negative symptoms and approach the trauma in a healthier and non-harmful way.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR therapy helps to reduce the emotional negative response to traumatic events. EMDR focuses on the traumatic memory while working with bilateral stimulation. Bilateral stimulation can include eye movement, tactile taps, tones, or even the use of vibrations and buzzers. Through EMDR, the patient walks through the traumatic experience in a safe space. This helps to reduce emotionally upsetting reactions.

Start healing

Childhood is a very delicate period in our life. It's important not to underestimate the power our past has on our present. If we see our life as a building, our upbringing and the events that surround it are the foundation for it.

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) is an organization created serve children and families who experience or witness traumatic events. This includes anything from child abuse and neglect to complex trauma and emotional abuse. Lean on clinicians, resources like NCTSN, and human services to get help.

The only way to understand who we are is to explore who we were. This starts with looking at the events that have made us become the person we are today. In that process, we will find a lot of important information to work on. It is important to "normalize" trauma and to be humble enough to work on it with therapy.

In the end, trauma is like a wound that hasn't healed properly. It takes time, care, attention, and thoughtfulness. No matter what life events you might've experienced, it is possible to heal.

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How to Heal from Childhood Trauma: 3 Steps to Start Coping

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Physical or sexual abuse This kind of trauma can cause not only physical damage to the child but also psychological damage that can last for years after it happened. Physical abuse includes any kind of physical violence against a child. It's sometimes masked as a "discipline measure" by many adults.

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A case study describes a young girl who witnessed a traumatizing incident at the age of 11. Over the years she developed severe symptoms of Post traumatic stress disorder(PTSD). Traumatic cases can impact functioning and speaking without support directly after the traumatic experience.

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Abstract

There is a great need to better understand the impact of traumatic events very early in life on the course of children's future development. This report focuses on the intriguing case of a girl who witnessed the murder of her mother by her father at the age of 19 months and seemed to have no recollection of this incident until the age of 11, when she began to exhibit severe symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in response to a traumatic reminder. The case presentation serves as the basis for a discussion regarding pertinent issues involved in early childhood trauma. This case and accompanying discussion were originally presented at the 19th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies and were transcribed and revised for use in this article. Specific topics include early childhood memory and trauma, learning and the appraisal of danger, and PTSD and traumatic grief in early childhood. Clinical and public health implications are also discussed. This case illustrates the dramatic impact that "preverbal" traumatic memories can have on children's later functioning and speaks to the importance of assisting very young children in the immediate aftermath of traumatic events.

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national center for biotechnology information

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The long-term consequences of early childhood trauma: a case study and discussion - PubMed

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There is a great need to better understand the impact of traumatic events very early in life on the course of children's future development. This report focuses on the intriguing case of a girl who witnessed the murder of her mother by her father at the age of 19 months and seemed to have no recolle ...

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“The Secret Life Of Bees” is a book published in 2001 that is about a young girl named Lily who lives with her abusive father and kind nanny Rosaleen. The author Sue Monk grew up in South Carolina in 1964 where this novel was set in. This book touches upon the struggles of a young girl who travels with Rosaleen to find out more about her deceased mother. This coming of age novel by Sue Monk Kidd is a fascinating book about the journey of a young girl named Lily and her nanny Rosaleen who travel away from her abusive father in search for information about her dead mother. “The Secret Life Of Bees” was published in 2001 and set in South Carolina in 1964 during a time of tough segregation and racism.

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This art piece brings a very interesting view of how people from the outside may feel dull and down but when you learn about what's inside of them it's a beautiful thing. People who have suffered for childhood trauma may feel like the girl in the picture. Then when they blossom out their childhood in a positive way they could grow from the trauma.

This artwork is a very good representation of the book “Secret Life of Bees”, Lily was a young girl who suffered from abuse from her father. When lily leaves she blossoms into a bright girl when she is surrounded by people who loved her. I thought the flowers were a beautiful representation of that.

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Henry Miller on Perspective, Acceptance, and the Beauty of Making Art

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Author Hope Gordon wrote a dark poem about someone's or her deep feelings of the childhood abuse they've received.  This poem is important because it describes dark emotions of the trauma of one's past. It is important that we understand everyone's past even if it was dark and had trauma. IN the beginning of the poem it describes how the pain can't breath and that's how people must feel when they have that type of trauma.

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My history of child abuse: My dangerous darkness.