Dealing with Losing Parts of Yourself

I for sure do that. All the time. Another thing I think about, along with what you said, is my weight and how much I’ve gained since then. It’s an issue lol. You’re not alone in that. I do think about what I’ve lost from when I was a kid. I thought the world would be so cool and everyone would be so nice. And, it hurts often. People around me notice changes to my person from when I was a kid, I am more reserved now then ever. Again you are totally not alone. How I deal with it is that I think, hey, I know more then I ever have at this very point in time. This is the most knowledgeable I have been in my life. That may have came with a cost, but so does child like ignorance. It hurts to know sometimes, but I also like to think of it’s benefits. I’m sure you have different goals from when you were that kid in the picture, and I’m sure you have different dreams. I’m also sure that the little you would be amazing at how far you’ve come and how much you have grown! It’s also very important to get in touch with that inner child sometimes, so play some games, do things you did as a kid sometimes!

Same here. I was so happy and cheerful as a kid, and then I went through so much I deserved better than, and I ended up becoming someone who feels sad and lost and bitter all the time. I remember Peter Pan was my favorite fairytale as a kid because I was so scared to grow up, ha. I'm so different than I was before, and sometimes I miss the person I used to be, but I'm also proud of some of the ways I've grown. Things change. Things do get better. Now that I'm older and have more agency over my life, I try to do things that my younger self would have enjoyed. Read the books I always wanted to, see the movies that looked really cool but I didn't get to see. My art has improved, too. I know my younger self would be gasping in awe at my skills :P

I understand what you’re feeling. There has been many times where I think about myself as a kid before I went through trauma and I miss that. I know for me I like to go back and look at old photos, and be grateful for who I was then and I think you have to be happy with who you are now. I don’t know if this is helpful but just know you’re not alone :)