Feeling Is Healing: Reclaiming Your Right to Emotional Safety

For many survivors of childhood trauma, emotions weren’t something you were taught to understand — they were something you were taught to suppress.

You might have been told:

• “Stop crying or I’ll give you something to cry about.”

• “You’re too sensitive.”

• “That didn’t hurt, you’re being dramatic.”

Over time, the message became clear: your feelings were a problem.

But here’s the truth:

Your feelings were never too much. They were simply never met with safety.

💡 Why We Learn to Numb

As children, when emotional expression is punished or ignored, the body learns to shut down. You may have grown into an adult who avoids conflict, disconnects from emotions, or feels shame when crying or getting angry. This is not a flaw — it’s a survival response.

But what helped you survive back then may now be standing in the way of your healing.

🌱 The Power of Emotional Honesty

Feeling is not a weakness. Feeling is healing.

When we allow ourselves to feel — even the uncomfortable emotions like anger, grief, fear, or shame — we create space for transformation.You don’t need to fix your feelings. You need to feel them safely, with compassion and curiosity.

Healing doesn’t require you to "move on" or “get over it.”It invites you to pause, connect with your inner child, and say:

“What you’re feeling makes sense. I’m listening.”

🛠️ Gentle Ways to Begin Feeling Again

If you’ve been emotionally shut down for a long time, reconnecting to your feelings can feel overwhelming. Start small:

• Journal what you feel without judging it

• Practice naming emotions (“I feel sad,” “I feel overwhelmed,” “I feel numb”)

• Cry if you need to. Let yourself release.

• Work with a trauma-informed therapist who can co-regulate and guide you safely through the process

• Ground yourself with your senses (touch, sound, breath) as emotions rise