Healing from trauma is a journey marked not only by battling the shadows of painful experiences but also by rediscovering the light of joy and happiness. It's a path that demands bravery – the courage to face a spectrum of emotions, to sit with them, understand them, and ultimately, to allow them to coexist within us.

This journey from surviving to thriving is about embracing the wholeness of our emotional experiences.

Understanding Emotional Numbing:

After experiencing trauma, it's common to try and shield ourselves from the emotional pain. This defence mechanism, though understandable, can inadvertently lead to numbing all emotions, including those that bring us joy and contentment. Researcher Brené Brown highlights the impossibility of selective emotional numbing – by dulling our pain, we also dull our capacity for happiness. Recognising this is the first step in relearning how to experience emotions fully and healthily.

The Power of Sitting with Emotions:

Learning to sit with difficult emotions involves a balance, allowing ourselves to feel and acknowledge these emotions without being overwhelmed. This process requires a mix of introspection and detachment – understanding our emotions, why they arise, but also seeing them as transient visitors in our minds.

Developing Emotional Awareness:

One key to embracing difficult emotions is developing an acute sense of awareness, particularly of our emotional triggers. Being aware gives us the power to prepare and to manage our reactions more effectively. It’s about recognising the signs of an upcoming emotional wave and learning strategies to let it pass without pulling us under.

Mindfulness and grounding techniques can be essential tools in this process. They teach us to stay present with our feelings, observing them without judgement or fear. These practices provide a stable ground, reminding us of our safety even amidst emotional storms. They don’t invalidate our emotions; rather, they provide a safe space to experience them.

In the journey towards healing, embracing our emotions in their entirety is an act of self-compassion and strength. It's not about choosing which emotions to feel but about allowing ourselves the full human experience. This journey is challenging, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. As you learn to navigate this path, remember that each emotion, whether painful or joyous, contributes to the intricate mosaic of your healing journey.

Embracing Joy in Healing:

An important aspect of healing is allowing yourself to reconnect with joy and happiness. It may seem distant or even impossible at times, but rediscovering joy is an integral part of your journey. By confronting and processing painful emotions, you create room in your life for joy to return, even in the smallest ways. The sky at dusk, a tasty meal, a catch up with a friend, allowing yourself to have a moment of joy, doesn’t mean your past experiences are forgotten or invalidated; rather, it means you’re giving yourself permission to experience a broader spectrum of life.

Redefining Your Relationship with Emotions:

Part of healing involves redefining how you perceive and interact with your emotions. It's about understanding that emotions are neither good nor bad; they are simply part of being human. Seeing your emotions as guides rather than foes can transform your healing journey. They are indicators of where you are in your process and signposts pointing towards what needs attention.

Recognising the transient nature of emotions is crucial. Just like waves at sea, they come and go. This understanding can bring a sense of peace, as it reminds you that even the most intense emotions are not permanent fixtures in your life. This perspective allows you to experience each emotion without being consumed by it.

The healing journey is rarely linear. There will be moments of profound sadness as well as moments of genuine joy. Embracing this fluctuation is a testament to your resilience and strength. It’s about acknowledging that healing includes experiencing a range of emotions, and each one has its place and time.

The Role of Self-Love and Bravery:

At the heart of this journey is an act of self-love and bravery. Confronting your emotions, especially those that stem from trauma, requires courage. It’s a brave endeavour to face your emotions head-on, to sit with them, understand them, and eventually find peace with them. 

As you continue on this path, remember that every emotion you experience is a step towards healing. You’re not just surviving; you’re learning how to thrive. This journey is about embracing every part of yourself, including your emotional landscape, in all its complexity. You are not alone on this path. With each step, you’re moving towards a life where joy and pain coexist, each giving depth and meaning to the other. Here’s to your journey towards emotional wholeness, towards a life filled with colour, depth, and resilience.