Wounds and Parts of You

Emotional wounds and parts are connected. Women are wounded in a myriad of ways. From emotional or mental abuse as a child, growing up in a home where name-calling, put-downs and neglect were the norm. Being parentified by taking care of siblings or parents before they were developmentally ready or able to take on such a task. Feeling unsafe through homelessness, absent parents, drug addiction and domestic violence in the home. Or stolen innocence and security through physical and sexual abuse. These wounds and others call parts into action to protect the Self from further harm.

The Wounding

Prior to my wounding, I would describe myself as a carefree, curious, and creative child who loved make believe and playing outside. Fairly normal, right? However, after the wounding, I’d describe myself as anxious, scared, and overly responsible. I grew up in a home with domestic violence. I believed I was responsible for my mother’s safety. A huge shift from care-free to ultra-responsible. A role far beyond my years. But in my five-year-old my mind, my new role was that of protector.

The Parts

The role my parts took on in response to my wounding were protector of mom, anxious, scared, sensitive and overly responsible. Our childhood wounds caused our parts to behave in ways to protect us, even when these behaviors seemed maladaptive. In any case, I had a part that believed it had to protect mom. This part was also protecting me, from the pain of mom being hurt.

What parts served to protect you as a child but are causing problems as an adult?

I found in my experience that those parts that made me feel safe and in control of my surroundings as a child, caused problems in my adult life. My need to protect my mother became exhausting because even after she divorced my father, this part refused to give up its role.

I had to do my work to heal my wounds and relieve my parts of their outdated roles.

I hope to do the same for many women to come.

Remember…It’s Never Too Late To Heal