27/05/2026
There are days when adulthood becomes too heavy, and the inner child quietly asks to be carried again. Sometimes healing looks strange because the exhausted adult inside us is silently longing to return to a place where things once felt safe.
And perhaps one of the saddest things about growing up is realizing that even adults still long for the comfort, protection, and reassurance they once had as children.
There’s a concept in Psychology developed by Freud called regression. According to him, regression happens when a person unconsciously reverts back to an earlier, safer stage of development during times of stress and anxiety. It is the mind’s way of escaping overwhelming emotions by returning to familiar patterns that once brought comfort and security. Regressions are quite common and can be seen in both children and adults. For example, a child may return to earlier behaviors like demanding a bottle when a new sibling arrives, while adults under extreme stress may withdraw, become overly dependent, remain in bed, return home seeking comfort, or show childlike behaviors as a way of coping. These responses are usually temporary and reflect how the psyche seeks safety during emotional overload.
Maybe that’s why some people suddenly become distant, overly emotional, dependent, or childlike when life becomes too heavy—not because they are weak, immature, or attention-seeking, but because deep inside, they are exhausted and trying to find safety in what once made them feel secure.
There are days when adulthood becomes too heavy, and the inner child quietly asks to be carried again. Sometimes healing looks strange because the exhausted adult inside us is silently longing to return to a place where things once felt safe.
And perhaps one of the saddest things about growing up is realizing that even adults still long for the comfort, protection, and reassurance they once had as children.
