Age Regression

Age regression is when someone reverts back to acting a certain age. I often go back to acting like a teenager under a lot of stress. Some causes of age regression are stress, trauma, dissociation, and psychosis. It can also be a symptom of some mental health conditions, such as Borderline Personality disorder (BPD), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Schizophrenia, and Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). It is often used as a coping mechanism during times of stress.

Some of the signs of age regression are crying, whining, tantrums, hitting, or needing a comfort object. I often feel the need to hold onto my stuffed animals when I'm going through these phases. I cry a lot and it comes off as attention- seeking, but I genuinely don't know how else to react. I've also hit without thinking about it. I have been told I still act like a child at times and it's really hard hearing that as an adult. It isn't something anyone wants to hear.

I wanted to make a post about this to make people aware that it can be a symptom of mental health conditions or trauma. Those of us that experience this are not just attention- seeking. It's a safety mechanism for us. When we get overwhelmed, it's easier to go back to a time where there was no stress. I haven't found a great way to cope with a lot of my symptoms yet, but there is therapy out there to help overcome symptoms like these. I am not a medical professional and this is just my experience with age regression. Thank you for reading!