“Your inner child is a real part of your subconscious mind. As a child, your deepest needs are to be seen, loved and kept safe. When these needs aren’t met, you create Inner Child wounds.
- Abandonment wound. If you were abandoned as a child, you may fear being alone or left out.
- Trust wound. If the adults in your life didn’t protect you from danger, you may feel insecure or afraid of getting hurt.
- Guilt wound.
- Neglect wound.
While there are many signs of a wounded inner child, here are some of the most common:
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- People-pleasing behavior, such as trouble saying no
- Difficulty setting and enforcing boundaries
- Feeling guilty for standing up for yourself
- Avoiding conflict at every chance possible
- Fear of abandonment or letting go
- Feeling inadequate or unworthy
- Constant criticisms – strong inner critic
- Afraid to ask for help or fear of being a burden
Our inner child wounds represent the parts of ourselves that were psychologically injured or neglected in childhood. Inner child work involves connecting with and healing these wounded aspects of ourselves. In the context of shadow work, inner child work can help us to understand and heal the roots of our negative patterns and behaviors.
Fortunately, it is possible to heal your wounded inner child. It’s important to put in the work to do this, otherwise, you may experience difficulties in adulthood, such as relationship troubles, substance use, low self-esteem, and more.
Some healing can be done on your own. For example, you can reflect on your childhood, write a letter to your inner child, and embrace your feelings. This is how you process past experiences, heal them, and let them go. You can also benefit from talking to someone, such as a mental health professional.
