CW: [child and sexual abuse, mental/emotional abuse, suicide, domestic violence]
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, more than two-thirds of children report at least one trauma by the age of 16. School and family violence, sudden loss of a loved one, neglect and natural disasters.
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While traumatic stress in children can impact a person’s life well into adulthood, many people who have experienced trauma as children are able to overcome it to lead healthy, successful lives. In fact, the following celebrities have not only healed their childhood traumas, but also broken the generational patterns that influenced them to give their own children a more peaceful and happier life.
Take Jay-Z (born Shawn Carter) for example. The music icon grew up in a housing project in Brooklyn, New York, with a single mother and a drug-addicted brother. His father, who had his own substance abuse issues, left the family, which left Carter feeling like he needed to step up to support his family as a child. He dealt drugs for over a decade before becoming the musical genius — and father of three — we know today.
Despite his own childhood trauma, Jay-Z told the Times in 2020 that his and Beyoncé’s ultimate parenting goals are to “just make sure we provide a loving environment, [and] Be very mindful of who you want to be.”
From Tyler Perry to Demi Moore, read on to learn how these famous people overcame their childhood trauma to ultimately become better parents of their own children.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of sexual assault, harassment or violence, you can get help. To speak to someone trained to assist in such situations, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673) or chat online at online.rainn.org.
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