Age Regression: Trauma, Coping Mechanisms, and Therapy

The term “age regression” refers to a psychological and mental condition in which a person’s behavior changes to the younger age. People can experience a relapse of a few years away from their current age or in some instances, return to an infant-like condition.

Regressive behavior examples include thumb sucking, baby age regression talk and temper outbursts. They can be voluntarily or involuntary. Regression is a normal, temporary condition for children, as well as a way to cope with trauma and stress for adults.

What Is Age Regression?

Age regression is a temporary or long-term reversal of behavior to earlier states of development. It is normal and expected in children but also occurs in adulthood.

People sometimes revert to childlike behavior to cope with trauma, stress, severe illness, or mental health disorders. Age regression can be unconscious (involuntary) or conscious (voluntary) behavior.

A subtle example is when a person who sucked their thumb as a child chews on a pen because they are stressed or trying to think. More severe regressions can include crying in a fetal position and bed-wetting.1

Age regression may occur with stress, traumatic memories, or triggers but age regression then recede when these stressors abate. Regressive behaviors can be more persistent when they are related to a neurological condition like head trauma or dementia.

Age Regression Examples
Other examples of regressive behaviors include:1

.Baby talk
.Inability to self-soothe
..Whining
.Becoming mute (nonverbal)
.Using a doll or stuffed animal for comfort
.Rocking
.Pacing
.Physical aggression
Temper tantrums (outbursts, throwing things, kicking, breath-holding)
Inability to perform basic routine tasks (eating, toileting, and grooming)
Pretending not to understand

Age Regression in Children

The process of age regression can be a common aspect of age regression development for babies and children of all ages, particularly when they’re stressed or have reached a new milestone. It’s a temporary condition and generally resolves in a couple of weeks.

In periods of stress children may go back to bed-setting or thumb sucking that were previously beyond their reach.

Condition-Related Behaviors
Regressive behavior can be a result of medical, neurological or mental health disorders and can be a symptom from: 1

.The disorder of identity dissociative
.Schizophrenia
.Schizoaffective disorder
.Catatonia
.Delirium
.Substance use disorders
.The post-traumatic stress condition (PTSD)
.Dementia
.Borderline personality disorder
.Mood disorders
.Depressive disorder

Involuntary age regression may be a sign of mental health issues such as PTSD as well as depression it’s not a mental illness in and of itself. It is a defensive mechanism to trigger a less stressful moment in life.

Voluntary Age Regression
For some, the process of age regression is a conscious choice that is used to cope for anxiety, past trauma or depression. Some people choose to adopt the behavior of a child as a means to manage anxiety.

Age-related regression in voluntary form could mean:

.Baby clothes
.Doing a pacifier’s suck
.Food being served food
.Utilizing a sippy cup or baby bottle
.Playing with toys for children
Making a secure space by using children-friendly objects can help you feel more peaceful

Agere: A Social Media Trend

The voluntary age regression is a non-adaptive strategy for coping advertised on social media platforms, where it is commonly abbreviated by “agere.” A few adolescents are considering agere as a strategy to cope with stress. Experts warn that voluntary age regression could exacerbate signs of PTSD in turn making it harder to manage. Parents must be aware of their teenager’s use of social media and keep an eye out for this risky trend.

O’Donovan AJ, Cardiel Sam H, Lagman JG. Voluntary age regression into “headspace” in a child suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Cureus. 2022;14(2):e22131. doi:10.7759/cureus.22131

Age Regression From Trauma

The victims who suffered trauma earlier tend to be more likely to experience relapse in the future, particularly if the trauma was experienced at a young stage of life. 1

Age-related regression disorders can be triggered by stressful events or trauma-related memories. 1

When It’s a Coping Mechanism

People discover ways to manage the challenges, adjust to, or deal with stress as they grow older. The mechanisms for coping could include journaling, talking or working out. Regression in age can happen when an adult feels overwhelmed and lacks other options to cope or express their distress.

Anna Freud’s Motivated Forgetting Theory
Sigmund Freud’s daughter Anna was a researcher in his research. Anna came up with specific tools to aid in psychoanalysis, or therapy for children. Instead of focusing on therapy sessions she also enthused children with drawings or play. 3

Sigmund Freud’s daughter Anna was a researcher in his research. Anna came up with specific tools to aid in psychoanalysis, or therapy for children. Instead of focusing on therapy sessions she also enthused children with drawings or play. 3

She suggested that people’s psychological state regresses when they are stressed into a period of emotional stress where they felt safe.

Carl Jung

Carl Jung, the psychiatrist who established analytical psychology, was able to view the process of aging more positively. Jung described age regression as a way to attain childhood innocence as well as security, love and faith. Jung believed that people would revert back to a state of mind when they felt safe.

Working With a Therapist in Regressive Therapy

In various forms of psychotherapy, someone could deliberately experience regression in sessions with an psychotherapist. This is often an effective and needed method of reworking dysfunctional (inappropriate) defence mechanism (including regression and performing). This can also result in better functioning beyond therapy sessions.

There are occasions, particularly when confronted with specific types of trauma or personality disorders, when the process of regression can be difficult to handle. This could require proactive interventions by a therapist in order to assist the patient in managing the regressions in a healthier way.

Hypnotic Regression Benefits over. Controversies

The purpose of regressive hypnosis therapy, a type of hypnotherapy is to actively assist a person to revisit memories and feelings that were previously experienced.

Certain therapists believe that this could aid people in locating repressed memories and help them deal with painful events that have occurred in the past. There is ample evidence that the memories gained through hypnosis do not have any validity. 5

Regression-focused hypnosis is still controversial due to a variety of reasons, such as:

The false memory disorder The memories that are triggered by hypnosis may not be reliable, and false memories could be created accidentally. 6
Preconceived notions Therapists could have developed opinions or ideas before that led them to make untrue or uninformed suggestions during sessions.
The lack of education The opposition claims that hypnotists aren’t all certified as therapists. In the absence of adequate training, they might not be equipped to aid if an emotional distress arises.

If you think hypnosis is something you would like to try it is crucial to locate a certified professional in mental health who has the appropriate education.

When Hypnotherapy May Not Be the Best Option

Hypnotherapy is not suitable for people suffering from illusions and hallucinations or for those who are dependent on alcohol and drugs.

Age Regression Stigma

 stigma refers to a negative perception or belief about the person or group which implies societal disapproval. Mental health stigmas can be extremely widespread.

The process of regressing into old age, either it is voluntary or involuntary can be confused with a kind of Kink (unconventional sexual preferences or behaviors) called “ageplay.” When playing with age, one plays in a way or acts as if they were younger in sexual activities.

But, age regression isn’t thought to be sexually oriented by medical or psychiatric experts.

Freud’s Psychosexual Development Theory

A few confusions related to sexuality and age may be due to the way Freud described the stages of development in childhood as a focussed, pleasure-seeking energy. The theory he proposed states that sexuality and personality change over five psychosexual phases. According to this theory each stage is focused on five erogenous zones (parts within the body more at risk of sexual stimuli).

When to See a Healthcare Provider

Age regression is usually only temporary in children. However, when they experience a regression for longer than a couple of weeks, talk to the pediatrician for help.

Adults who show signs of age regression should seek advice from the healthcare provider or mental health specialist who can diagnose and treat the underlying reason and/or assist them in developing different strategies to cope

Summary

Age regression, which is those who appear older than they are It can be either uninvoluntary or voluntary. Involuntary regression in children is a normal and temporary occurrence that occurs as part of normal development and growth.

Psychological theories of age-related decline for adults differ between researchers, neurologists, psychiatrists and psychologists. They offer a variety of causes that could be involved, including the possibility of coping mechanisms for stress, a behavior linked to specific mental or medical health issues, as well as an underlying condition that is often promoted by certain psychotherapies.