How to Move Forward from a Bad Childhood Experience

Healing from a painful or traumatic childhood experience can be difficult, but recovering a degree of peace and balance is usually possible if you are willing to take the necessary hard steps. Instead of embarking on the process alone, seek the support of a professional counselor and trusted friends. These individuals can help you continue in the healing process when it becomes too much for you to cope with alone.

Instructions

• 1

  Accept the reality of what happened and of the pain it has caused you. Allowing yourself to acknowledge that you feel angry, frightened or insecure can help you experience the feeling and move on, instead of holding back and keeping your emotions segregated from your awareness.

• 2

  Accept that you have the ability to make choices that will create a real difference in your life. Even though you cannot change what happened or what other people think, feel and do, you can choose your own attitudes and responses in a way that will lead to cycles of growth and healing, rather than negative cycles of fear, insecurity, isolation or self-loathing.

• 3

  Confide in a trusted friend or counselor, and ask for help in the process of healing from your painful experience. Make sure it's someone who will listen to you and support your decisions while also having the freedom and wisdom to redirect you when you are making poor decisions or clinging to unhealthy attitudes.

• 4

  Forgive the people who hurt you by choosing to release any ill will and desire for retaliation against them. You may have to repeat your decision many times before it takes hold as an attitude, but each time you let go of the need to bring their guilt to justice, you will free yourself as well. Remember that the other person does not need to accept or even know about your forgiveness before it can have an affect on your healing.

• 5

  Construct wise and healthy long-term habits to build up and maintain your recovery. Get the right amount of sleep, exercise, friendship and nutrition. Pay attention to falsely negative or accusatory self-talk, and begin replacing it with truth. Keep a journal to document your choices, attitudes and insights.