A major barrier on my healing journey was my habit of avoiding pain at all costs.

Experiencing pain, in my view, seemed like a total waste of time, leading only to negative outcomes:

• Sadness
• Fear
• Anger
• Helplessness

💡 What I didn’t realize was that

hidden behind

the pain

was

power and wisdom.

I just

needed

to

go

through

the entire

cycle

to uncover

this

surprising

reward.

🎯 If pain is unavoidable, it’s time to break it down and simplify the process!

🔄 The Cycle of Emotional Pain Release:

Understanding how the psyche processes deep emotional wounds

Healing is not a straight line — it’s a cyclical unfolding. And each time we are triggered, our nervous system and unconscious mind offer us another chance to process what was once too overwhelming to feel.

Let’s walk through the full emotional cycle, stage by stage:

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1. The Trigger Phase

🔹 “Something touches the wound.”

This phase starts when a current event, situation, or interaction mirrors an old emotional wound — often from childhood, past trauma, or unresolved pain.

🔁 Common Triggers:

• Rejection or abandonment
• Criticism or perceived failure
• Feeling unseen, unheard, or disrespected
• Lack of control or sudden change
• Betrayal or boundary violations

🧠 What Happens Psychologically:

• The amygdala signals threat
• The nervous system activates a fight/flight/freeze/fawn response
• The subconscious brings the old wound to the surface disguised as a current problem

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2. The Activation Phase

🔹 “The body remembers what the mind has forgotten.”

You begin to relive emotional patterns stored in the body and nervous system. The reaction often feels bigger than the situation because it’s connected to unresolved pain.

😖 Common Signs & Emotional Symptoms:

• Sudden emotional overwhelm
• Disproportionate anger, anxiety, sadness, or fear
• Tightness in chest, stomach knots, shallow breathing
• Racing thoughts or obsessive loops
• Desire to lash out, run away, or shut down

🧠 What’s Happening Internally:

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