support

When the hurt runs deep

Trigger warning: Suicide Awareness

It comes in like a wave sometimes. I tell this story, not sure of how old I was but I will guess about ten. I was walking back from the ocean to my towel, and all of a sudden a wave came up over me. All I could hear is swooshing of water surrounding me, unsure if my feet were on the sand or in the air, my hair and sand in my eyes, choking and literally taken for a ride. It wasn’t until I had settled and found my footing that I realized which end was up.

Have you ever been hit by a wave?

Sometimes we get hit with really strong emotion, and nothing feels clear. It seems to threaten to derail us or take us off our feet. And for some, the pain is so deep and there is a heavy weight that pulls them under.

How to Heal: A reflection on pain and frustration

We are biologically wired to connect and integrate. And when things come up that hurt us or scare us, we get this urge to fight, run away, or avoid it.

What do you notice happening in your body when something feels painful or frustrating? What is your gut response?

We don’t heal by stuffing, avoiding, denying or minimizing pain. We don’t heal by spiritually bypassing. We don’t heal by self-medicating or by trading one addiction for another.

We heal by having the courage to face hard things with strong support. We can work through what has been unresolved or passed down, and find safe people who can hold space that allows us to heal and grow. That act of courage changes the pattern for generations.