If You Want to Truly Heal Say Goodbye To These 7 Myths About Recovery
When I used to think about the words recovery and/or healing I automatically thought of the stigmatized version of those words. The version that brings shame about needing to recover or heal... it made me feel broken, just like how I was made to believe.
The self-recovery process has been a mix of fits and starts for many - times when we thought we had everything figured out, only to find out we were just scratching the surface.
How the hell can someone who has been submerged in an environment of invalidation develop a healthy sense of self?
But our sense of self is there, it has been developing right beneath our trauma narrative.
How do we know?
1. Quiet Moments of Clarity
Sometimes, in the stillness or during moments of peace, there are small glimpses of who we really are. These moments may feel fleeting or subtle, but they are signals that your authentic self is emerging, even when you don't always recognize it right away.
2. Intuitive Responses
When you experience a sense of knowing, an instinct, or a feeling that something is right or wrong for you, that’s often the truest reflection of yourself. It’s your internal compass, which has been honed through years of experience, despite the noise of invalidation/manipulation.
3. Resilience in Adversity
The fact that you’re questioning these layers of shame and the meaning of recovery shows your resilience. It takes strength to challenge long-held beliefs about yourself. Your persistence in continuing the journey of self-discovery, even when you feel stuck, is a testament to the power of your underlying self.
4. Emotional Awareness
As you heal, you might notice greater emotional awareness and the ability to differentiate between what is truly yours and what was imposed on you. This is a sign of your true self asserting itself—recognizing which emotions are authentically yours versus what was conditioned into you by external forces.
5. The Desire for Growth
Your drive to recover, improve, and heal, despite the fits and starts, is a reflection of an innate part of you that longs for fulfillment. That impulse to "figure it out," even if it feels like a winding path, is a natural drive toward wholeness, a sign that your self is evolving beyond the trauma.
6. Your Internal Voice
The more you practice self-awareness, the more you’ll start to recognize the voice inside you that speaks with honesty and compassion. It might have been drowned out by the voices of invalidation in the past, but as you continue healing, that voice becomes clearer, helping you reclaim your true self.
7. Authentic Connection
When you find yourself able to connect with others in a genuine, unguarded way—whether it's through empathy, understanding, or shared vulnerability—that’s an expression of your authentic self. It’s a testament that the trauma narrative isn’t all-encompassing, and that a healthy, connected self exists.