Something Alchemical

People who have experienced childhood trauma perceive the world through a lens shaped by their pain. What might seem like a minor inconvenience to someone fortunate enough to have had a safe and nurturing upbringing can trigger an emotional spiral for those who carry the scars of a troubled childhood. Their lives often feel unbearably intense, which is why, from a young and neglected age, they have had to develop makeshift ways of coping - often through unhealthy mechanisms.

Living in survival mode is profoundly painful. It feels like a relentless choice between numbing out completely for temporary relief or being perpetually haunted and on edge. This is a harrowing existence, and yet, many of these individuals can appear to others as "normal" functioning adults. Sometimes, because they have been told so often that they are "bad" or "broken" they begin to believe that narrative themselves.

But all it takes is for someone to remind them of their inherent goodness and to have genuine faith in their ability to grow. With this love and understanding, they can begin to embrace their shadows, transforming their pain into wisdom and their survival into something alchemical.

The answer has always been love - not just romantic love - but pure and unselfish love in all its forms.