There’s No Shortcut to Healing Childhood Trauma: Embrace the Journey
Hi everyone, and welcome to my blog. I’m Kim, and today, we're getting brutally honest about a tough but necessary topic: healing childhood trauma.
Now, let’s get one thing straight right off the bat—there is no magic pill, no secret shortcut to healing childhood trauma. It’s not something you can fix overnight. If you're here looking for that easy way out, you might as well pack up and leave now because, truth bomb: healing takes time. Yep, real, honest-to-goodness time, much more than most people are willing to admit.
We live in an era of instant gratification. Fast food, fast internet, fast results. But guess what? Healing doesn’t care about your impatience. It has its own timeline, not yours. Trust me, I know how hard that pill is to swallow because I’ve been there. When I started my healing journey, I was a wreck. I had just left my teaching career, a dream I had chased for years, only to burn out after six. Adjusting to being a stay-at-home mom was a struggle.
In my naivety, I thought therapy would be like hitting the reset button. I was expecting a simple diagnosis and a three-step plan to fix it. Imagine my surprise when my therapist started throwing labels at me like confetti—codependency, anxiety, childhood emotional neglect, enmeshment. Her solution? Medication. An antidepressant or anti-anxiety med to make the pain stop and give me the "stairs" to climb out of my emotional ditch.
There’s a quick-fix mentality even among healthcare professionals sometimes. And I fell right into that trap, thinking, "Why does it have to take so long? Why can't I just move on?"
Here’s the deal: you’re trying to unravel years, maybe even decades, of deep-seated pain and trauma. You can’t just snap your fingers and fix that. You have to be ready to commit to the long haul. Healing is like climbing a mountain—exhausting, frustrating, and at times, you slip and slide back before you can progress. There were so many moments in my journey when I wanted to give up, thinking, "Forget it. I’ll just stay where I am. At least I know this misery."
But deep down, I knew I wanted more for myself and my kids. I didn’t want them to see me as the mom who was always struggling, always worn down. I wanted a better legacy for them and for myself.
Here’s the kicker: if you lack patience, you will sabotage your healing journey. I’m not naturally a patient person; I want results yesterday. So I tried to fast-track my healing by consuming endless books and podcasts, thinking they’d give me the answers I needed. Spoiler alert: it made things worse. I ended up overwhelmed with information and unable to apply any of it effectively.
The Reality Check
You will get frustrated. You will doubt the process. There will be times when it feels like there's no growth, no movement, and that’s okay. What’s not okay is giving up. If you don’t cultivate patience, you’ll find yourself back at square one, more discouraged than before.
Healing forces you to face things you didn’t even know you were running from. I thought my issue was an identity crisis from leaving my teaching career, only to discover I was running from childhood trauma and the trauma of being a domestic abuse survivor.
Healing isn’t supposed to be easy.
If it were, we’d all be trauma-free by now. Complaining about how long it takes won’t help either. Each day you dedicate to healing is another day you’re not shackled by your past. Patience becomes your most powerful weapon in this fight. Without it, you’re bound to lose the battle.
How Can You Do That?
So, you’re ready to embrace the process, but you might be wondering, “How do I actually foster patience and get through the tough times?” Here are some practical tools and techniques to help you feel less stuck and more empowered on your healing journey:
Journaling: Keeping a journal is a simple yet powerful way to process your thoughts and emotions. Writing regularly can help you track your progress, release pent-up feelings, and gain insights into your healing journey. Plus, all you need is a pen and paper!
EFT Tapping (Emotional Freedom Techniques): This is a powerful method that involves tapping on specific meridian points on your body while focusing on negative emotions or physical sensations. It’s a fantastic way to release emotional blockages and reduce feelings of anxiety and stress.
It’s important to do tapping with the guidance of someone who know it well because it could be counterproductive if done wrong!
Sound Baths: Immersing yourself in the soothing sounds of drums, singing bowls, chimes or other instruments can be incredibly therapeutic. Sound baths help to calm the mind, relax the body, and create a sense of inner peace, making it easier to cultivate patience.
If there aren’t places that make regular sound baths in your city, you can contact me for virtual sound bath sessions. I also make regular events and would love to have you join me!
Meditation and Mindfulness: If you don’t know how to engage in this practice, there are numerous free apps and resources available that can guide you through meditation and mindfulness exercises, in case you can’t afford to pay for professional 1:1 services. Apps like Insight Timer and Calm offer free guided sessions that can help you center yourself and practice patience. You can also find many sessions on YouTube.
1:1 Coaching Sessions: Sometimes, having a guide can make all the difference. As an intuitive healing coach, I offer personalized sessions to help you navigate your unique healing journey and finally let go of the weight on your shoulders. We can work together to identify and release the root causes of your trauma, develop effective coping strategies, and foster the patience you need to move forward.
Support Net: I always say it but having a supportive, safe environment to heal and help you thrive during challenging times is crucial. If your current circle is not helping you, there are several legit online forums and support groups where you can connect with others who are on similar healing journeys. Websites like Reddit and Facebook have numerous groups dedicated to trauma recovery and mental health support.
It’s important to filter these groups, since not all of them will be beneficial. If you don’t know which one to join, you can look for communities made by certified coaches and not just content creators dedicated to this field.
Healing takes time. Accept it, embrace it, and don’t let your impatience or frustration rob you of the life you deserve. You have two choices: commit to the process and go with the flow, or stay stuck in the same place. I know if you're reading this, you want to heal. You want to be on the other side of the trauma. Remember, you are supported, and you’re not alone in this journey.
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog. Your healing journey is yours, and it’s uniquely beautiful!
I’m Kim Keane, coach and energy healer, and I’d love to help you transform your life, your relationships and ultimately build a path toward a loving, peaceful life. DM me or email me at kim@kimkeane.com if you want to get personalized support, download my Free Everyday Spirituality Handbook or get my EFT Tapping Booster Session to continue making progress on your healing journey!