--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a matter of fact I had a terribly…" description: "\"As a matter of fact I had a terribly traumatic childhood. But afterward I sort of reraised myself.\" — Michael Gruber" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ee/michael-gruber-23692_afterward_as-a-matter-of-fact-i-had-a-terribly-tra_693973.jpg" --- # As a matter of fact I had a terribly traumatic childhood… ![“As a matter of fact I had a terribly traumatic childhood. But afterward I sort of reraised myself.” quote by Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ee/michael-gruber-23692_afterward_as-a-matter-of-fact-i-had-a-terribly-tra_693973.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ee/michael-gruber-23692_afterward_as-a-matter-of-fact-i-had-a-terribly-tra_693973.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ee/michael-gruber-23692_afterward_as-a-matter-of-fact-i-had-a-terribly-tra_693973.jpg) > “As a matter of fact I had a terribly traumatic childhood. But afterward I sort of reraised myself.” [Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker acknowledges a painful past but emphasizes personal growth and self-reconstruction. **In simple terms:** Overcoming trauma through self‑rebuilding. Key Takeaway Embrace resilience and self‑directed healing. Themes resilience self‑growth trauma recovery Mood reflective hopeful Type personal narrative inspirational When to use this quote - personal development - therapy - education - career advancement Key Concepts psychology post‑traumatic growth Questions to Reflect On - How have you rebuilt yourself after trauma? - What support helped you most? A Different Perspective Self‑rebuilding may overlook lingering emotional wounds. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afterward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afterward/) [Childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/) [Childhood Afterward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood-afterward-5508368/) [Childhood trauma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood-trauma/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Matter of fact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter-of-fact/) [Terribly Traumatic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terribly-traumatic-5508367/) [Traumatic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traumatic/) [Traumatic Childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traumatic-childhood-214066/) ## Related quotes > [“ACEs are traumatic childhood events, and their consequences reach far into adulthood. The trauma need not be physical. The following events or feelings are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-vance/aces-are-traumatic-childhood-events-and-their-consequences-reach-far/) [J.D. Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-vance/) > [“tried to go to a counselor, but it was just too weird. Talking to some stranger about my feelings made me want to vomit.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-vance/tried-to-go-to-a-counselor-but-it-was-just-too-weird-talking-to-some/) [J.D. Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-vance/) > [I was in analysis for years because of a traumatic childhood; I was breast-fed through falsies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-was-in-analysis-for-years-because-of-a-traumatic-childhood-i-was/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [I had no traumatic childhood experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-solomon/i-had-no-traumatic-childhood-experiences/) [Stacey Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-solomon/) > [“Other personalities are created to handle new traumas, their existence usually occurring one at a time. Each has a singular purpose and is totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-hersha/other-personalities-are-created-to-handle-new-traumas-their-existence/) [Lynn Hersha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-hersha/) > [A Dream of Undying Fame is a probing, elegant and balanced book. Louis Breger shows how Freud’s traumatic childhood shaped his ambitious, detached and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-webster/a-dream-of-undying-fame-is-a-probing-elegant-and-balanced-book-louis/) [Brenda Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-webster/) > [“Psychologists call the everyday occurrences of my and Lindsay’s life “adverse childhood experiences,” or ACEs. ACEs are traumatic childhood events, and their consequences reach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-vance/psychologists-call-the-everyday-occurrences-of-my-and-lindsay-s-life/) [J.D. Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-vance/) > [“The idea that John Lasseter pitched was called “Toy Story.” It sprang from a belief, which he and Jobs shared, that products have an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/the-idea-that-john-lasseter-pitched-was-called-toy-story-it-sprang/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [“He was determined to take responsibility but he was just a cog. She’d seen that many times before. It was a belief often borne…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-mina/he-was-determined-to-take-responsibility-but-he-was-just-a-cog-she-d/) [Denise Mina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-mina/) > [Once a decision was made, I didn't worry about it afterward...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/once-a-decision-was-made-i-didn-t-worry-about-it-afterward/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Apologies don't mean anything if you're going to act the same way afterward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/apologies-don-t-mean-anything-if-you-re-going-to-act-the-same-way/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“And in everything that came afterward, I could never stop thinking that maybe she loved mysteries so much that she became one”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/and-in-everything-that-came-afterward-i-could-never-stop-thinking/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Stories are invented as you go along...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/stories-are-invented-as-you-go-along/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [When that shutter clicks, anything else that can be done afterward is not worth consideration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-steichen/when-that-shutter-clicks-anything-else-that-can-be-done-afterward-is/) [Edward Steichen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-steichen/) > [Don't think about what you’ll tell people afterward. The time is here and now. Make the most of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/don-t-think-about-what-you-ll-tell-people-afterward-the-time-is-here/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) ## More by Michael Gruber > [“coats every surface. The heat builds up and”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/coats-every-surface-the-heat-builds-up-and/) [Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/) > [“...envy is the one deadly sin that no American can ever admit to...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/envy-is-the-one-deadly-sin-that-no-american-can-ever-admit-to/) [Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/) > [But there's the paradox of fiction - why do you cry when a fake character dies? It's the basis of art. You engage with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/but-there-s-the-paradox-of-fiction-why-do-you-cry-when-a-fake/) [Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/) > [But it turns out that people who are grounded and secure don't change much under stress. That's what being grounded means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/but-it-turns-out-that-people-who-are-grounded-and-secure-don-t-change/) [Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/) > [“It is an animus, she decides, the representation of the Logos in the female, as the anima is the representation of Eros in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/it-is-an-animus-she-decides-the-representation-of-the-logos-in-the/) [Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/) > [“You look at us and you see oppression; we see stability and harmony. You see corruption; we see ties of family, friendship, and mutual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/you-look-at-us-and-you-see-oppression-we-see-stability-and-harmony/) [Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/) > [The problem with evil people is that they can see only evil in others. It is one of the worst curses of being evil,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/the-problem-with-evil-people-is-that-they-can-see-only-evil-in-others/) [Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/) > [“Does it matter, when you read, if the person who wrote still lives?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/does-it-matter-when-you-read-if-the-person-who-wrote-still-lives/) [Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/) > [“Thus, although life is by and large unthrilling, when we do find ourselves in the sort of situation upon which thrillers dote we cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/thus-although-life-is-by-and-large-unthrilling-when-we-do-find/) [Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/) > [“Farid, you are keeping a hawk; don't expect her to lay eggs like a chicken.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/farid-you-are-keeping-a-hawk-don-t-expect-her-to-lay-eggs-like-a/) [Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/) > [“They talk about adrenaline, but Marder knew it was much more than adrenaline; it was a mystical cocktail that comes only from this one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/they-talk-about-adrenaline-but-marder-knew-it-was-much-more-than/) [Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/) > [“There are three kind of history. The first is what really happened and that is forever lost. The second is what most people thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/there-are-three-kind-of-history-the-first-is-what-really-happened-and/) [Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/) > ['The Book of Air and Shadows' was born during a conference with an intellectual property lawyer on a particular afternoon in November of 2003.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/the-book-of-air-and-shadows-was-born-during-a-conference-with-an/) [Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/) > [“When I got to the States and started going to an American high school, which I did for an extremely short time, I thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/when-i-got-to-the-states-and-started-going-to-an-american-high-school/) [Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/) > [“Yes, well, irony is no protection when you can feel the breeze from his scythe on your skin and hear the rustle of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/yes-well-irony-is-no-protection-when-you-can-feel-the-breeze-from-his/) [Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/) [Explore all 25 Michael Gruber quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/) ## More Afterward quotes > [Don't think about what you’ll tell people afterward. The time is here and now. Make the most of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/don-t-think-about-what-you-ll-tell-people-afterward-the-time-is-here/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [When that shutter clicks, anything else that can be done afterward is not worth consideration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-steichen/when-that-shutter-clicks-anything-else-that-can-be-done-afterward-is/) [Edward Steichen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-steichen/) > [“Stories are invented as you go along...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/stories-are-invented-as-you-go-along/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [“And in everything that came afterward, I could never stop thinking that maybe she loved mysteries so much that she became one”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/and-in-everything-that-came-afterward-i-could-never-stop-thinking/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Apologies don't mean anything if you're going to act the same way afterward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/apologies-don-t-mean-anything-if-you-re-going-to-act-the-same-way/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Once a decision was made, I didn't worry about it afterward...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/once-a-decision-was-made-i-didn-t-worry-about-it-afterward/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [It's okay to screw up. It's what we do afterward that defines us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-mallery/it-s-okay-to-screw-up-it-s-what-we-do-afterward-that-defines-us/) [Susan Mallery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-mallery/) > [History does not usually make real sense until long afterward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-catton/history-does-not-usually-make-real-sense-until-long-afterward/) [Bruce Catton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-catton/) > [Here's a thing about the death of your mother, or anyone else you love: You can't anticipate how you'll feel afterward. People will tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-schmich/here-s-a-thing-about-the-death-of-your-mother-or-anyone-else-you-love/) [Mary Schmich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-schmich/) > [There's a part of all of us whose impulse is to say, "Let's keep everything the same until I die and then you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/there-s-a-part-of-all-of-us-whose-impulse-is-to-say-let-s-keep/) [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) > [“A thorn is a pain, but the flower is a beauty if it vanishes it will leave hundreds of seeds afterward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamaran-ihsan-salih/a-thorn-is-a-pain-but-the-flower-is-a-beauty-if-it-vanishes-it-will/) [Kamaran Ihsan Salih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamaran-ihsan-salih/) > [. . . we should be men first, and subjects afterward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/we-should-be-men-first-and-subjects-afterward/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [We can do all we wish while we live; afterward, we are less than the meanest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-xiv/we-can-do-all-we-wish-while-we-live-afterward-we-are-less-than-the/) [Louis XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-xiv/) > [The real question in life isn't whether you'll be loved, it's whether you can take the hurt afterward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-real-question-in-life-isn-t-whether-you-ll-be-loved-it-s-whether/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [First he wrought, and afterward he taught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/first-he-wrought-and-afterward-he-taught/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) [Browse all 21 Afterward quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afterward/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As a matter of fact I had a terribly traumatic childhood. 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