ways to soothe your inner child

lxrynwxtring
Aug 12, 2022
5 min read

8/12/22

hello cherubs!

do you ever feel like you had to grow up quickly and didn't get a chance to truly "be a kid?"

often times, as children, we go through events or circumstance that cause us to mature more quickly than the average child. this can happen through emotional, mental, or physical neglect or abuse. but it can also happen through less traumatic experiences as well. once these wounds are formed, they usual take many years to heal.

my childhood was a what you would call "picture perfect." I had two loving parents, with all my physical needs (and almost all wants) being met. I had friends and a support group through church that showed me I was worthy of love.

at the age of 10, I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, an autoimmune disease that attacks your pancreas and kills the beta cells causing you to no longer produce insulin. for someone who never had a previous medical diagnoses, this was life altering. I had to go from being a "normal" kid to giving myself multiple shots and pricks a day. not only did this change the way my parents had to take care of me, but it changed how I had to take care of myself. fortunately, my father is a nurse and new the basics of taking care of a diabetic. but to me, it was all new.

fortunately enough, we are blessed enough to be able to afford anything that I would need for my diagnosis, including: insulin, needles, pump supplies, and lots and lots of apple juice. but this diagnosis made me have to grow up quick. needless to say, I wasn't allowed to be alone ever again (this is only partially a joke). I quickly learned that if I wanted to live, I had to learn how to control this disease. diabetes in general can be a detrimental diagnosis, but only if you don't take care of yourself. thankfully I am blessed with a family full of nurses and people looking out for me always.

before my diagnosis, my childhood was average. but once this diagnosis was given, it was like becoming an adult in a small person's body. it is constantly being self-aware and in tune with what my body is telling me. thankfully, I've always been able to tell when my blood sugar is too high or too low, but not everyone is that fortunate. and technology has really advanced since 2011. I now have a CGM, continuous glucose monitor, that tells me by blood sugar 24/7 and updates every five minutes. I no longer have to prick my finger to get a reading. and I also have one of the best insulin pumps they make so that I don't have to give myself 5+ shots every day.

with this diagnosis came a lot of responsibility. it didn't mean that I couldn't do what other kids my age were doing, it just meant that I had to be more careful. but to me, this was so different than what I was used to. I could still be a kid, but it didn't feel like it. I had a life altering condition that I always had to look out for. I was constantly wondering if my blood sugar was going to go low while doing something important or go to high and make me feel bad while doing something major. it caused me to mature and understand how to take care of myself at a quicker speed than those around me.

during the time, I didn't realize the affect it had on me. and I don't want it to sound like this horrible thing, because it's not, but it was something that I really had to be in tune with and aware of at all time when other kids my age didn't have to worry.

when someone goes through something with altering, they can spend the rest of their lives trying heal that inner child that didn't get to grow up naturally. healing your inner child and taking care of yourself can look different for everyone. but having an idea how to cope with it can be helpful.

resources from: nurishedbyjess.com

ways to heal your inner child:

the first step is becoming aware of it. understand that you might not have had the chance to live your childhood to the fullest, and that's okay.
accept it and be open to get to know it. acceptance is the majority of healing your inner child. it doesn't make you a bad person or someone who is different. we all have experiences that shape us differently.
take responsibility. you may not have caused your childhood to be cut short, but you are the one that has the ability to heal it. it is up to you to help your future self.
allow yourself to feel and experience any and all emotions that come with this healing process.
recognize that this might be painful. you might be digging up memories that you hadn't realized were still there.
listen to and acknowledge its needs. it doesn't matter if you're doing something that's for "kids." if you feel the need, identify it and choose the best way to heal it.
honor it. allow it to have a special place in your daily life. it deserves to have healing.
add play and moments of joy to your life. even if you get weird looks and stares, do it for yourself.
remind yourself that you feelings are normal reactions and you have the power to decide what you want to do with them. every one experiences life differently and many people have to heal their inner child. you are not alone.
connect with people that let you be yourself. if you find that you are being judged for whatever it is that is helping you heal, remove that negativity. find those that support you no matter what.
set boundaries around relationships that are draining to you. if someone is hurting or stopping your healing, tell them. you don't have to fully remove yourself, but you can limit it.
and lastly, do things that make you feel alive. it can look different for everyone.