trauma
At its core, trauma can be thought of as the psychological wounds that persist, even when the physical ones are long gone.
Becoming My Own Gravity. Runner-Up in The Metamorphosis of the Mind Challenge. Top Story - April 2025.
I was standing at the end of a hospital bed, holding my son’s hand as tightly as I could, hoping if I held his hand, it would help to anchor him as we witnessed the unthinkable. He was about to turn twenty-two; she had just turned twenty-one six weeks earlier. He was in shock, not knowing how to process what he was seeing. I didn't know how to process what we were seeing. Thirty-six hours earlier, he had kissed her as she and her mother got into a cab to go to the hospital. At the time I could feel him trembling inside as he stood there stoically. I could feel his world slipping away beneath his feet as much as my own. The doctors and nurses had just taken her off life support. Tubes removed, monitors silenced. It had only been twelve days since she first felt that earache. Twelve days from ordinary to catastrophic. The doctor called her time of death within two minutes. This was the pivotal moment—an abrupt halt to life as I knew it, a violent scratch across the record of my life that had been playing. It was the moment we felt the ground beneath our feet disappear.
By Xine Segalas2 years ago in Psyche
I Confronted My Inner Child—and Everything Changed
We carry our past like invisible luggage—heavy, worn, and often forgotten. But what if the person who needs your attention the most isn’t a stranger or even someone from the outside world? What if it’s the child you used to be, waiting quietly within you, still hurting, still hoping? This is the story of how I came face to face with my inner child—and how that moment shattered everything I thought I knew about healing, self-worth, and personal growth. --- For years, I thought I was doing just fine. I had a decent job, a circle of friends, a life that looked “okay” on the outside. I paid my bills, showed up to events, smiled in photos, and posted quotes about gratitude on my story. But inside, there was always this strange ache I couldn’t name. A subtle, gnawing sadness that came and went without warning. I thought it was just stress. Or maybe just how life was supposed to feel once you became an adult. I didn’t know I was carrying around a version of myself that had been silently screaming for years. It all started one late evening, after a long and frustrating day. I was scrolling on my phone, half-listening to a podcast in the background when a phrase caught my ear: “Healing begins when you meet your inner child.” Something about those words made me pause. I’d heard of inner child work before, but always brushed it off as too abstract. Too emotional. Too… soft. But I was tired of feeling like a robot in my own life. That night, I tried something I’d never done before: I sat in silence with myself. No music. No distractions. Just me, my thoughts, and a question that felt almost silly: “Where are you?” At first, nothing happened. My mind wandered. I thought about emails I hadn’t answered, laundry I hadn’t folded. But then, unexpectedly, a memory surfaced—one I hadn’t thought about in years. I saw myself at seven years old. Sitting at the bottom of the staircase in our old house. Knees pulled to my chest. Clutching a crumpled notebook, tears streaming down my face. My dad had just called my drawing "a waste of time" and told me to focus on something “useful.” That little me didn’t understand. He just wanted to be seen. To be proud of something. To be told it was good. In that moment, I felt it—grief, sharp and deep. I started crying, and I didn’t stop for a while. I wasn’t just mourning a drawing or a harsh comment. I was grieving all the parts of myself I had silenced over the years. All the little versions of me that were told to sit down, be quiet, grow up. I realized I had built my entire adult identity on top of unhealed wounds. I chased achievements for validation. I avoided conflict to stay liked. I made myself small in relationships because I feared being “too much.” And every time I ignored my own needs, I was abandoning that little kid inside me all over again. That night, I did something I never thought I’d do. I closed my eyes and imagined sitting beside that younger version of myself. I told him everything he needed to hear: “I’m so sorry they made you feel invisible.” “You were never a burden.” “You are creative. You are worthy. You are enough.” It wasn’t a magic fix, but it was a beginning. And beginnings are powerful. Since that night, I’ve made it a practice to check in with my inner child regularly. Sometimes, it’s a journal entry. Sometimes, it’s a quiet walk where I simply ask, “How are you feeling?” There are days he feels scared, especially when I’m taking risks or speaking up for myself. And I’ve learned not to push that fear away, but to hold it gently and respond with love. I began noticing how many of my “adult” struggles were just echoes of unresolved childhood pain. My fear of being judged wasn’t about coworkers—it was about being laughed at in school. My anxiety around relationships wasn’t about my partner—it was about not feeling safe to express emotions as a kid. Connecting these dots didn’t just give me clarity—it gave me freedom. Healing my inner child changed the way I live: I no longer perform for approval—I express myself authentically. I no longer suppress emotions—I give myself space to feel them. I no longer see vulnerability as weakness—I see it as a return to truth. I even started drawing again. At first, my hand trembled. That inner critic, shaped by years of shame, still whispered doubts. But I kept going. I bought crayons, colored pencils, messy markers. I let that little version of me play again, and for the first time in forever—I felt joy that wasn’t tied to productivity or praise. Just joy for its own sake. This journey hasn’t been easy. Sometimes healing feels like breaking. But the beautiful thing is—you’re not breaking apart. You’re breaking open. Opening to the parts of you that have been buried beneath expectations, fear, and time. If you’ve ever felt lost, disconnected, or like something’s missing—you’re not broken. You’re probably just overdue for a conversation with the version of you that still believes in magic. Still trusts easily. Still hurts deeply. Still hopes. So let me say this, to your inner child: I see you. I hear you. You are enough. You always were. --- Final Thoughts: The day I confronted my inner child was the day everything shifted. Not because the world changed—but because I did.
By Gift Abotsi 2 years ago in Psyche
I Died in My Mind. Honorable Mention in The Metamorphosis of the Mind Challenge.
I was hospitalized for the entire month of January 2015 with necrotizing pancreatitis which eventually progressed to multi-organ system failure. For 90% of that month, I was in the ICU. At my lowest point physically, I was given a 20% chance to live. So much fluid had built up inside my abdomen that at various times my kidneys, lungs, and heart each failed completely or had their function reduced to levels below what is necessary to sustain life. An emergency surgery called a decompressive laparotomy saved my life. Basically, they cut me open at the midline of my torso from sternum to waist, spread me apart and left me like that for three days to drain.
By Everyday Junglist2 years ago in Psyche
Covert Narcissism: 10 Hidden Signs and How to Protect Yourself Emotionally
A delicate skill, covert narcissism is a sneaky technique of manipulation disguised under smiles, pretended apathy, and deliberate detachment. From my experience, there is a pattern — a set of hidden narcissist signals — that expose their actual character even if they carefully hide their methods. I will reveal ten hidden indicators of covert narcissism today and walk over how you could emotionally defend yourself from these poisonous tactics. Prepare yourself: many people overlook until it is too late the silent, but terrible, weaponizing of disengagement and other covert measures that follow.
By Waleed Ahmed2 years ago in Psyche
The Importance of Staying True to Yourself
Introduction: In a world full of distractions, expectations, and pressures, it can be easy to lose sight of who you truly are. Society often pushes us to fit into molds that aren’t aligned with our true selves, whether it’s through social media, peer influence, or even family dynamics. But staying true to yourself is one of the most important things you can do for your personal well-being and fulfillment. Living authentically allows you to be at peace with who you are, attract the right people into your life, and pursue your passions without fear or regret. In this article, we’ll explore the significance of staying true to yourself and how embracing your authenticity can lead to a richer, more fulfilling life.
By Inside the soul2 years ago in Psyche
Why the World Needs More People with a Good Heart?
Introduction: In a world that often feels chaotic, divided, and sometimes unkind, one of the most precious gifts we can offer is a good heart. But what does it mean to have a good heart? It’s not about being perfect, or always doing the right thing. Rather, it’s about carrying kindness, empathy, and a genuine care for others, regardless of the situation. In a society that often emphasizes success, status, and material wealth, having a good heart is a silent but powerful revolution. People with good hearts offer something that is so desperately needed today — a chance for humanity to reconnect with its compassion. And this world needs more of them now than ever before.
By Inside the soul2 years ago in Psyche
The Power of Forgiveness: How Letting Go Can Free Your Heart
Introduction: Forgiveness is not just about letting others off the hook. It's about freeing yourself. In a world full of grudges, bitterness, and unresolved conflicts, forgiveness is the key to peace. It’s a strength, not a weakness — and it’s one of the most powerful tools we have to heal ourselves and build stronger, more meaningful relationships. The process of forgiving can be incredibly liberating. It’s an act that empowers you to move forward in life, without the burden of past pain. Whether it’s forgiving someone who hurt you deeply or forgiving yourself for mistakes you've made, the act of letting go of resentment brings healing in profound ways. In this article, we'll explore how the power of forgiveness can transform your life and help you find peace within.
By Inside the soul2 years ago in Psyche
The Black Sheep Effect: How Being the Outsider in Your Family Shapes Your Mental Health. AI-Generated.
Growing up as the “black sheep” of the family can feel like living in a house that was never truly built for you. Maybe you were the creative one in a family of pragmatists, the sensitive soul among hardened hearts, or the one who saw the cracks in the foundation when everyone else insisted the house was fine. Whatever the case, being the outlier in your own family can leave scars—scars that don’t always fade with time.
By AD Solstice2 years ago in Psyche
