Healing from abuse is a complex and deeply personal process that can vary from individual to individual. It involves navigating a range of emotions, thoughts, and behavioral changes as a person works to recover from the trauma and rebuild their sense of self and well-being. Similarly, the experience of feeling "complete again" after healing is unique to each person and may not be an identical experience for everyone.
During the healing process from abuse, some common feelings and experiences include:
Emotional Turmoil: Healing often involves confronting and processing intense emotions such as fear, anger, sadness, and shame. These emotions may come in waves, and it can be challenging to make sense of them at times.
Self-Doubt and Guilt: Survivors of abuse may grapple with feelings of self-blame, guilt, or doubts about their own worthiness. It is not uncommon for survivors to wonder if they could have done something differently to avoid the abuse.
Flashbacks and Triggers: Healing from abuse may involve experiencing flashbacks, intrusive memories, or triggers that bring back memories of the traumatic experiences. These can be distressing and may temporarily disrupt the healing process.
Physical and Psychological Symptoms: Some survivors may experience physical symptoms such as headaches, sleep disturbances, or gastrointestinal issues. These can be related to the stress of healing from the abuse.
Isolation and Trust Issues: Survivors may struggle with trust, which can lead to feelings of isolation and difficulty in forming new relationships.
Empowerment and Resilience: As healing progresses, survivors may start to regain a sense of empowerment and resilience. They may recognize their strength in overcoming the challenges they have faced.
Seeking Support: Healing often involves reaching out for support from friends, family, or professionals, such as therapists or support groups.
As for feeling "complete again," it's essential to understand that healing from abuse is not about returning to an exact state before the trauma occurred. Rather, it is a process of growth, adaptation, and finding a new sense of self. Over time, survivors may experience:
Emotional Stability: As healing progresses, survivors may find a greater sense of emotional stability and inner peace.
Self-Compassion: Healing often involves developing self-compassion and self-kindness, recognizing that they are not at fault for the abuse they experienced.
Rebuilding Trust: Survivors may gradually learn to trust others and themselves again, albeit at their own pace.
Reshaping Identity: The process of healing can lead to a reshaping of one's identity, understanding who they are beyond their traumatic experiences.
Renewed Interests and Relationships: As survivors heal, they may rediscover interests, hobbies, and form new, healthier relationships.
Increased Boundaries and Empowerment: Healing often involves setting and enforcing healthy boundaries and feeling empowered to protect oneself from harm.
It's important to acknowledge that healing is not a linear process, and setbacks or challenges may occur. Each person's journey is unique and should be approached with patience, self-compassion, and, if needed, professional support from therapists who specialize in trauma and abuse recovery.