We may be triggered when someone gets angry, withdraws, gives attention to someone else, says mean things, doesn’t tell the truth, misunderstands us, etc.-and suddenly the pain that has been pushed inside us all these years comes roaring to the surface.

Then, later in life, especially when we fall in love or get closer to a new person, these old wounds may become activated. We split away from our whole self and start to operate as a fraction of our true self. When we are deeply wounded at a young age, we often are not able to handle the pain, so we find ways to dissociate from the intense feelings. Even though it was in your past, when you encounter these sensory reminders as an adult, you may feel that same anxiety, unease, or panic. If you’ve ever experienced a traumatic event, you likely remember certain sounds, smells, or sights related to that experience. Witness what comes up for you when a stimulus or trigger causes a painful memory to resurface. One of the best ways to do this is to allow yourself to feel your feelings. To heal, it’s important to process these unmet needs. Often these parts of us that are buried deep stem from stunted, unmet childhood needs. Many of us are so used to protecting ourselves from feeling our deepest core wounds that we don’t realize we are operating from a fractured place. One powerful way to begin or promote our healing journey is through inner child journaling. This can show up in the form of hidden fears, doubt, insecurities, and even old childhood inner wounds that get blocked and stored in the body, preventing us from moving forward in life. We all have an inner healing journey that we often keep private and don’t share with others. That’s why we choose love, always.” -Emma Lovewell “Everyone has a secret battle we know nothing about.

Inner child work journal prompts