It might sound surprising—and many people still don’t believe it—but our earliest experiences lay the
foundation of who we become.
A child needs to feel safe, loved, and seen. When these needs aren’t met—whether due to abuse, neglect,
or abandonment—an invisible wound forms. This emotional wound is known as childhood trauma. And
it’s not just a painful memory; it’s a deep emotional program wired into the subconscious.
Psychotherapist Nerea Bárez explains it clearly: “Childhood trauma can alter the brain, trigger chronic
stress, and increase the risk of anxiety or depression. But thanks to neuroplasticity, healing is now truly
possible.”
The famous ACE study in the U.S. revealed that the more adverse experiences a child faces, the higher
their risk of physical and mental illness in adulthood.
Picture a child who was abused, lost a parent, was bullied at school, and lived with an alcoholic relative.
Each of these traumas adds another emotional weight to their invisible backpack. So the child copes by
disconnecting from their feelings, believing they don’t deserve love. They may numb their pain with food,
isolation, or self-blame.
While this helps them survive early on, as they grow older, those coping mechanisms start to get in the
way—making it harder to trust, relax, or even receive love.
Take Brianda, for example. At 36, she was diagnosed with unexplained infertility. In therapy, a hidden
truth surfaced: she had been abused as a child. Deep down, her subconscious had linked motherhood with
danger and pain.
Through EMDR therapy, she reconnected with her inner child, and just months later, she became
pregnant. Today, she gently holds her belly and says: “Now there are two little girls walking together—the
one I once was, and the one on her way.”
Her story is a powerful reminder that unhealed trauma can silently sabotage us—but when we heal, we
break the cycle.
Dr. Bruce Hoffman, who studies intergenerational trauma, adds: “Sometimes, without realizing it, we
carry the pain of our parents or grandparents.”
Both family constellations therapy and epigenetics confirm that we inherit more than just eye color or
hair texture—we can also inherit emotional wounds. But once we become aware, we gain the power to
heal—not just for ourselves, but also for our children and grandchildren.
A wounded child often grows up believing they’re not good enough or don’t deserve happiness.
Rationally, the adult may know that’s not true—but subconsciously, the wound still runs deep.
That’s why affirmations like “I am enough,” repeated daily, can help rewire that inner script.
Visualization exercises, where you imagine the loving childhood you deserved, can also create powerful
healing.
Therapies like EMDR help reprocess painful memories and release trapped trauma. Neuroscience
confirms that healing truly rewires your brain. And healing the inner child isn’t about forgiving the abuser
—it’s also about forgiving yourself for believing it was ever your fault.
This chapter is an invitation to make peace with your past, so you can write a new story for your future.
Your childhood doesn’t define your destiny.
Now the pen is in your hands.
Rewrite your story. Honor your inner child. And consciously create the life you’ve always deserved.
