The emotional healing process takes time, and it looks different for each person.
What Is Emotional Healing?
It may involve empathy,self-regulation, self-compassion,self-acceptance, mindfulness, and integration.
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However, this can actually inhibit the process of emotional healing.
When Do You Need Emotional Healing?
These feelings may cause a functional impairment in your day-to-day life.
Emotional healing may look different if symptoms are becoming chronic.
No matter what the trigger for your difficult emotions, emotional healing is possible in all of these scenarios.
Here are some questions you might want to ask yourself as you embark on your healing journey.
Its pretty hard to heal if youre beating yourself up all the time.
That’s why showing yourself kindness and compassion can be key to your emotional healing.
Research has shown that people who practiceself-compassionshow more significant increases in well-being than those who don’t.
Thank Yourself
Thank yourself.
Yes, thats rightthank yourself.
While past coping mechanisms might not serve you now, you’ve made it this far.
Reach out to someone who feels safe.
You are likely experiencing a range of deep feelings such as sadness, grief or rage.
Those aren’t fun emotions and its tempting to want to ignore them or rush through them.
It will be uncomfortable, but acknowledging tough feelings is part of healing.
The good news is that feelingsdopass even if it doesnt feel like they will.
Therapy
Emotional healing can be incredibly rewarding but it can also be painful in the interim.
Find out which option is the best for you.
Journalingis often suggestedand for good reason.
Research has shown that journaling may be an effective tool for building greater emotionalresilience.
This can be deeply healing and helpful in processing emotions.
Research suggests that many emotions tend to be fairly short-lived.
Some last longer than others.
Challenging emotions likeshame, fear, disgust, boredom, andirritabilitytend to fade the fastest.
This information can help emotions feel less overwhelming.
Breathe through the sensations.
Move your body as it wants to move (i.e., slowly or quickly, shaking or running).
Moving the body to process stress or trauma can be seen in the animal kingdom as well.
Get Support
Social supportcan also play a vital role in emotional healing.
Be open to receiving support from your community.
Allow yourself to be seen, supported, and cared for by friends and loved ones.
How Do I Know If I Am Healing?
There is no finish line to cross that signifies you are fully healed!
There may be deeper and deeper levels of emotional healing to be discovered.
Do your best to live in a way that honors and supports your continued journey of emotional healing.
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