If you are parenting an abused adopted child, you might notice that your child acts differently as a full moon approaches. I cannot tell you why this happens, only that the full moon can be a huge trigger for anyone who has been abused.

Anyone who has worked with children or in an emergency room can tell you that the full moon affects people. Numerous people working in the fields of education or medicine have confirmed this for me. My therapist pointed out that the moon is strong enough to affect the tide, and a person’s body is made up mostly of water, so it stands to reason that anyone can become affected by a full moon.

Some victims of ritual abuse have a more understandable reason for being triggered by the full moon. Ritual abuse frequently takes place with the full moon, so there is an understandable connection between the abuse and the fear of the full moon. For other abused children, the connection is not so obvious, but this does not negate the fact that they are affected by the full moon.

I always know when a full moon is approaching, and I don’t need a calendar or to look up into the sky to tell you. A few days before a full moon, I get a bad headache. It feels like someone is squeezing my head. I get irritable and more susceptible to being triggered, and my reactions to any trigger are more likely to be extreme. And then, once the full moon passes, I feel a release and get back to normal (or my version of normal, anyhow).

To the extent you can, try to keep things lower key as a full moon approaches. If your abused child is sensitive to the full moon, take extra steps to help your child feel safe and secure. Also, be patient with your child, especially if she overreacts around a full moon. Even if she knows logically that she is overreacting, she might not be able to control her emotional reaction. She will seem more like herself after the full moon passes.

Photo credit: JulieC