Self healing is a powerful and natural way to heal from trauma. It is a process that involves the body and mind and can be optimized through holistic healing strategies.
These include exercise, meditation and mindfulness activities like yoga. It is also important to connect with others. Isolation can make your trauma worse, so try to find ways to spend time with others.
1. Self-awareness
Self-awareness is the ability to consciously reflect on and evaluate your own thoughts, feelings and behaviors. It’s an empowering tool to help you understand who you are and how your actions affect others.
People with low levels of self-awareness are often impulsive and lack empathy, even when they hurt other people. They may also have difficulty admitting when they’re wrong and can be defensive when criticized by others.
By becoming more self-aware, individuals can better align their values and aspirations with their current environments and emotions, build stronger relationships and become happier. It also helps them to understand their strengths, weaknesses and how they impact others, so they can make positive changes that improve their quality of life.
2. Self-love
People who lack a sense of self worth are vulnerable to fear-based inner talk when trauma strikes. The intelligent internal guidance system associated with self-love, when it’s present, offers you kindness and advice that empowers you to survive a difficult situation, instead of the usual critical voice that tries to get you to suffer or panic.
Loving yourself is not just about saying nice things to yourself or taking good care of your physical health, explains therapist Jalissa Shelby. It’s about being mindful and showing up for yourself in the way you treat others — even when that means drawing a line in a one-sided relationship or making the choice to say no to something that drains your energy.
Loving yourself isn’t frivolous like some people think when they hear “self-love” tips such as bubble baths and face masks, says psychologist Nina Polyne. It’s a real, enduring process that takes work and effort.
3. Self-care
Self-care is an important part of mental health and can be in the form of activities like taking a nap, relaxing, exercising, meditating, eating well, or getting enough sleep. But sometimes people may find it difficult to prioritize self-care when they’re already struggling with stressors and other responsibilities.
“Self-care can include anything that feels nourishing or rejuvenating to you,” says Marni Amsellem, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist. And though the term can sometimes be seen as selfish, it’s not about padding your schedule with indulgences. Instead, self-care is about finding balance and caring for yourself physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. These habits can improve your mood, lower your risk of illness and increase your energy levels. In addition, they can help you manage your symptoms and feelings of depression or anxiety.
4. Self-acceptance
Self-acceptance is an important part of self-love and can help you learn to embrace your strengths and weaknesses. It involves learning to listen to your body and mind, acknowledging negative beliefs that you may have, and accepting that you are human.
It also means forgiving yourself for past mistakes and letting go of the inner critic that keeps you locked in a vicious cycle. Research shows that it is essential to cultivate a sense of acceptance during recovery.
Many therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), promote self-acceptance by helping individuals recognize and challenge negative thought patterns. Other approaches, like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), encourage the development of psychological flexibility by teaching people to live in line with their values while letting go of judgment and expectation.
5. Self-reflection
Self-reflection is the process of deep consideration of your actions, thoughts, feelings, and motivations. It involves penetrating your unconscious mind to examine the deeper, more meaningful reasons behind your choices and decisions.
It helps you to understand what motivates and drives your behavior, fostering deeper alignment with core values and reducing cognitive dissonance. It also allows you to identify sources of stress, develop coping strategies and make healthier choices that support your well-being.
Reflecting can be challenging, but it’s an essential practice for anyone interested in achieving emotional stability and mental wellness. Try practicing mindfulness, meditation, and journaling to help you dive deeper into your subconscious. Alternatively, you can use a mental health platform like Quenza to give structure and guidance to your reflection process.
