Today on the blog I want to share with you a personal story about my healing journey.

I've been reflecting on the pivotal moment that led me off the path of feeling sick and dissatisfied, and onto the one that eventually led to the healing of my symptoms.

It began when I discovered through therapy that I had experienced childhood trauma.

From these events, I inherited thoughts and beliefs that were not truly me.

They were not aligned with who I am, my authentic self, and would not be thoughts or beliefs I would have adopted had I not experienced these traumatic events of my upbringing.

And yet, they became a lens through which I saw the world, shaping my interactions, relationships, and self-perception.

The truth is, we all hold beliefs that influence us, whether they arise from traumatic experiences or not.

Those of us who have experienced trauma likely have more of these beliefs, as our brains develop them in order to keep us safe. 

How do they keep us safe?

Let's take a very commonly held limiting belief (and one that I have/ continue to actively work on releasing): I am not enough.

We can develop this belief for many reasons, all unique to our lives.

For me, being enough meant being everything for everyone. And if I "failed" at that, I learned that bad things would happen.

As a result, it was better and safer for me to stick to things that were straightforward and predictable. Things I knew I couldn't fail. 

Things I knew I could be "enough" at. 

However, this belief, like all limiting, misaligned beliefs, was ultimately causing harm - in the form of a dysregulated nervous system.

Let me explain:

When trauma happens, it chronically alters our nervous system, leaving a huge imprint and changing our sense of safety in the world.

As a result, we shift into fight, flight, freeze, or fawn more often than when we are in a calm, regulated state.

Being in fight, flight, freeze, or fawn more often than not is the definition of dysregulation.

And living out limiting beliefs born from trauma keeps the trauma alive in our bodies by telling our nervous system: the threat that created this belief is still around. Otherwise, why else would you be thinking and acting this way? 

Here's the tie-in to chronic illness:

Our bodies cannot heal when our nervous systems are dysregulated.

We can only heal when in a calm, safe, and connected place.

By uncovering, reprogramming, and releasing these beliefs, the symptoms of chronic illness can fade away. 

Said another way:

Symptoms are merely a byproduct of the limiting beliefs.

Thus, the healing journey is ultimately about reconnecting with our true selves, removing all of the layers that stand between us and it.

Understanding and reprogramming these subconscious beliefs is foundational to the healing process on all levels.

It's not enough to just recognize trauma and dysregulation.

As I learned on my healing journey, we must work towards reprogramming these beliefs to achieve symptom resolution and, ultimately, feel better, reconnect with ourselves, and achieve the freedom, purpose, and connection we deserve.

If you find this helpful, I welcome you to check out the Sacred Illness Community, where we're teaching this methodology and working to rewire these beliefs for improved health outcomes and overall well-being. Click here to learn more!