Many people experience trauma in childhood, both “big” traumas and “small” ones. Healing the inner child can profoundly affect your journey and help you find lasting happiness and success.
The Inner Child: Childhood Traumas and Wounds
Unfortunately, childhood trauma is quite common. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “More than two thirds of children reported at least one traumatic event by age 16.”
When most people think of childhood trauma, “big” events like abuse, domestic violence, natural disasters, and war may come to mind. However, childhood trauma comes in all shapes and sizes. Events like emotional abuse, persistent yelling, bullying, and military family stressors can all create trauma.
A child doesn’t even have to be directly affected by a situation to be impacted by trauma. Children may witness another person’s trauma. They may also be exposed to traumatic news events, movies, and other forms of media. These situations can be especially frightening for highly sensitive persons (HSPs). HSPs are generally more likely to be negatively affected by intense feelings and emotions.
Trauma’s Lasting Effects
While the initial event is usually highly traumatic in itself, the lasting wounds of traumatic events can be even more dangerous. Both short- and long-term trauma wounds can negatively affect a person’s life. These wounds can interfere with a child’s natural brain functions and lead to mental illnesses, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and addictions.
According to a 2014 article published in Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, PTSD symptoms in traumatized children are thought to “contribute to delays in or deficits of multi-system developmental achievements in behavioral, cognitive and emotional regulation.”
The article also mentions that childhood traumas that are “interpersonal, intentional, and chronic” are associated with greater rates of long-term wounds. These can include conditions like depression and anxiety, antisocial behaviors, and a greater risk of developing substance use disorders (SUDs).
Healing the Inner Child
All types of childhood trauma can cause you to have a wounded or neglected inner child. This can have a huge impact on the way you feel about yourself. It can also greatly affect the way you function well into adulthood. However, learning how to heal your inner child will have profound benefits for your health and overall well-being.
According to a 1991 article in The Nursing Clinics of North America, “Painful experiences and lack of nurturing in dysfunctional families wound the inner child and contaminate adult experiences.” These experiences can lead to problems with trust and intimacy, as well as addictive and compulsive behaviors. They can also lead to codependency.
How to Begin Healing
Healing usually happens slowly. In the words of that 1991 article, “Healing the inner child by grieving neglected childhood developmental needs is a long process.” However, this process can greatly improve the quality of your life.
Before you begin exploring inner child healing, it’s important to note that this is best done with the support of a trained clinician so you can avoid re-traumatization as best as possible. The trauma-specific clinicians at The Guest House are here to guide you through this process one step at a time.
Using Visualization and Journaling
You may want to start keeping a journal as you begin the journey of inner child healing. Using your journal, you can reflect on your memories and track your progress.
Another powerful method to connect with your inner child is using visualization. Close your eyes and ask your inner child to take you to a moment where they felt scared, wounded, or traumatized.
You can also reach out to your inner child through this visualization and ask them if there is anything they need right now. They may need to be told that you love them, or maybe you can imagine hugging them. Trust whatever comes through. This is how you reconnect to the wounded part of you, take back your power, and regain trust in yourself.
Heal the Inner Child and Overcome Trauma at The Guest House
Inner child healing is a profound journey that is best done with the support of trauma-trained professionals. At The Guest House, our trauma-specific program was created for this exact reason. Trauma healing, in general, can be dangerous on your own. The Guest House will guide you through this journey in a gentle way so you can avoid frightening re-traumatization.
Here at The Guest House, we offer a cutting-edge blend of holistic and traditional therapies to help you through the journey of healing trauma. Those therapies in our trauma-specific program include modalities for the mind, body, and soul.
The more connected you become with yourself and your inner child, the more you will open up within yourself to heal. At The Guest House, we are here to help you get to the root of your struggles by healing childhood trauma so you can create a safe, supportive, and healthy life ahead.
Childhood trauma is an unfortunate reality for nearly two-thirds of children. However, learning how to heal the inner child is one of the most profound processes you can undertake during your journey of trauma recovery. Inner child healing is a process that is best done with the support of trauma-trained professionals. At The Guest House, our trauma-specific program was created with this support in mind. We offer a cutting-edge blend of traditional and holistic modalities to help you reconnect with your inner child as you heal your mind, body, and soul. The Guest House is here to guide you through this journey one step at a time. For more information, call us at (855) 483-7800.