My shopping cart
Your cart is currently empty.
Continue ShoppingWhat is Emotional Healing?
Emotional healing for adults typically includes practices like self-awareness, self-compassion, and mindfulness. Young adults, who often encounter challenges such as identity formation, career pressures, and relationship dynamics, can benefit from building resilience, developing healthy coping mechanisms, and establishing strong support systems. For couples, emotional healing often centers on finding a licensed therapist or counselor to help enhance communication and rebuild trust, utilize techniques such as emotionally focused therapy, active listening, and address past hurts to foster reconnection.
Understanding Emotional Wounds as a Result of Loss
A change in your circumstances, large or small, can trigger varying degrees of hurt, grief or deep unhappiness. Over the years, many individuals have inquired about the process of overcoming emotional hurts. Observing the process of emotional healing makes one become aware of their feelings. You can then expect the healing process to follow, which can be activated by a conscious decision to let go, forgive or surrender to the reality of a loss.
Experiences such as betrayal, relocation or death of a loved one, getting divorced or losing a relationship can trigger a sense of loss. Heartache can also be felt as an existential loss due to an ego or identity crisis:
- The birth of a child, where you leave your own childhood behind to enter parenthood.
- Marriage, where you leave your identity as a single person behind in order to take on the role of a married person.
- Illness, where you must let go of your identity as a sick person and embrace your life as a healthy person. Or where, for the most part, you have experienced good health, and now you are ill.
- A wounded childhood, where you exit your identity as a broken or wounded person, letting the circumstances that supported a wounded identity fall away from you, as you enter a new identity as a healthy, more care-free person.
7 stages of emotional healing
The stages of healing can be felt on many levels of your being: Physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. Since everyone is different and so are their coping mechanisms, these stages may not necessarily occur in the sequence outlined below. Some may skip a stage and then return to it later. Regardless of the order, the entire healing process may last for days, months or even years. An important point to note is that you do not need to go through this on your own. It is prudent that you seek professional help from those qualified in the area of counseling or spiritual mentoring or both and if this is not possible, the wise counsel of a supportive friend or understanding relative is recommended.
There are phases involved in the process of healing. It is a universal journey that comes with an easy to read map once you recognize the chaos in your life for what it really is. Each stage on the path to healing is necessary and normal. Here’s a quick overview:
Phases of emotional healing
Stage 1 — Avoidance
Avoidance is often considered the initial phase of emotional healing. During this stage, individuals may engage in behaviors or activities to distract themselves from confronting their emotional pain. This can include substance abuse, stress eating, binge-watching TV, or immersing themselves in work or other projects. While these avoidance tactics might provide temporary relief, they ultimately prevent the necessary processing of emotions and can prolong the healing journey.
Recognizing and moving past avoidance is crucial for progressing to the next stages of emotional healing, which typically involve awareness, acceptance, and active processing of emotions.
Stage 2 — Confrontation
The confrontation phase of emotional healing involves facing the emotions and pain that were previously avoided. During this stage, individuals actively acknowledge and confront their emotional issues, which can provide a sense of relief and empowerment. This phase is crucial as it allows for honest self-reflection and the beginning of true emotional processing.
Stage 3 — Staying with the emotions
The staying with the emotions phase involves fully experiencing and processing the emotions that arise. During this emotionally healing stage, individuals allow themselves to feel their emotions deeply without trying to suppress or avoid them. This can be a challenging but crucial part of healing, as it helps to understand the root causes of emotional pain and fosters genuine emotional release.
By staying with their emotions, individuals can gain insights into their feelings, leading to greater self-awareness and emotional resilience. This phase often involves practices such as mindfulness, journaling, and therapy to help navigate and process these intense emotions.
Stage 4 — Clarify and action
The clarify and action phase of emotional healing involves gaining a clear understanding of one’s emotions and the underlying issues causing them. This stage is about identifying specific feelings, patterns, and triggers, which helps in formulating a plan to address them effectively. Once clarity is achieved, the focus shifts to taking actionable steps towards healing. This can include setting goals, making lifestyle changes, seeking therapy, or engaging in activities that promote emotional well-being.
By taking deliberate actions based on newfound clarity, individuals can move forward in their healing journey with purpose and direction.
Stage 5 — Epiphany and gratitude
The epiphany and gratitude phase of emotional healing involves experiencing a profound realization or insight about oneself or one’s situation. This epiphany often brings a new understanding or perspective that can significantly shift one’s emotional state. Following this realization, individuals typically feel a deep sense of gratitude. This gratitude is not only for the newfound clarity but also for the entire healing journey, including the challenges faced along the way.
Gratitude in this phase helps to solidify the healing process, fostering a positive outlook and a sense of peace. It encourages individuals to appreciate their growth and the lessons learned, making them more open and willing to continue their emotional healing journey.
Stage 6 — Processing
Processing involves exploring and understanding the root causes of emotional distress. This can be done through self-reflection, journaling, therapy, or conversations with Inspire ME staff.
Stage 7 — Transformation
Transformation, where individuals experience a profound change in their emotional well-being. This phase signifies a move from merely surviving to thriving.
Finding Emotional Healing Is A Process
Change can often be a daunting process that leaves you feeling out of control. When you are in control, you tend to feel secure and comfortable. Change can destabilize your emotions, triggering feelings of insecurity and a greater loss of control. Change can create chaos, confusion, and even symptoms of depression, but its presence in your life means that growth and healing is taking place.
Staying engaged in the healing process, especially when it becomes challenging, requires a combination of the right strategies and support. Here are some tips to help you stay committed:
1. Set Realistic Goals
Break down your healing journey into small, manageable steps. Celebrate each milestone, no matter how small, to maintain motivation
2. Practice Self-Compassion
Be kind to yourself. Understand that healing is a personal journey that takes time. Avoid self-criticism and acknowledge your efforts
3. Seek Support
Surround yourself with supportive friends, family, or a therapist. Sharing your experiences and feelings can provide comfort and encouragement
4. Stay Active
Engage in physical activities like walking, yoga, or exercise. Physical movement can help reduce stress and improve your mood.
5. Mindfulness and Meditation
Practice mindfulness and meditation to stay present and manage stress. These techniques can help you stay grounded and focused on your healing
6. Creative Expression
Express your emotions through creative outlets like art, music, or writing. Creative activities can be therapeutic and help process feelings
7. Maintain a Routine
Establish a daily routine that includes time for self-care, relaxation, and activities you enjoy. A structured routine can provide stability and a sense of normalcy
8. Focus on the Positive
Identify and focus on positive aspects of your life. Practicing gratitude and positive thinking can shift your perspective and boost your resilience
9. Connect with Nature
Spend time in nature to rejuvenate and find peace. Nature can be a powerful healer and help you feel more connected to the world around you.
10. Professional Help
Don’t hesitate to seek professional help if needed. Therapists and counselors can provide valuable guidance and support throughout your healing journey
Counseling to guide you through the stages of emotional healing
At Inspire ME Ministries, we offer comprehensive counseling and therapy services tailored to young adults, adults, and couples. Our approach integrates various therapeutic techniques, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and mindfulness practices, to address a wide range of emotional and psychological needs.
Our clients love working with us because we provide:
- Personalized Care: We create customized treatment plans that cater to the unique needs of each client, ensuring a more effective and personalized healing journey.
- Experienced Therapists: Our team consists of highly qualified and experienced therapists who specialize in different areas of mental health and emotional well-being.
- Holistic Approach: We believe in treating the whole person, not just the symptoms. Our holistic approach includes mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
- Flexible Online Sessions: We offer convenient online and virtual therapy sessions, allowing you to receive support from the comfort of your home, no matter where you are.
Ready to take the next step in your emotional healing journey? Learn more about our therapy and counseling services and how we can support you in achieving a balanced and fulfilling life. Contact us today to schedule your first session and start your path to emotional well-being.
Sources: