Healing the Hidden Wounds: From Childhood Trauma to Empowered Growth

By Prof Sherry ❤️

Sometimes the deepest wounds are the ones we don’t even know we have.

I was just a newborn when my life began with an unexpected separation. My mum, full of dreams and determination, left me in the loving care of my grandparents so she could travel to Ireland with my dad to study medicine. At that time, no one would have imagined the ripple effect this early moment would have on the course of my life.

My earliest memories? Not of my parents, but of my grandparents. They were my world, my safety, my home. So naturally, when my parents returned, I didn’t run into their arms. I didn’t understand who they were to me. In my heart, I already had parents — and they were not them.

I never understood why I always felt slightly disconnected. I never had the words to describe it, nor the clarity to explore it. That is, until life forced me to slow down and look inward.

In 2017, when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, part of my healing process involved seeing a therapist. I went in to talk about my health. What I discovered was my heart.

Through therapy, I came face to face with something I’d buried for decades: abandonment trauma. A silent thread that had woven itself into my relationships, my self-worth, and even my success. That separation in my infancy shaped the lens through which I viewed love, trust, and belonging. And for the first time, I gave that little girl inside of me a voice.

🌸 Why We Must Stop Suffering in Silence

Too many of us are walking around with invisible wounds — smiling, succeeding, striving — while carrying emotional baggage we didn’t pack ourselves. Trauma isn’t always about a single dramatic event. Sometimes, it’s subtle. It’s the absence of comfort. The confusion of a child. The unspoken grief of not feeling fully seen or chosen.

And yet, we keep pushing through, pretending we're “fine.”

But hear me loud and clear: You do not have to carry this alone.

💬 The Power of Therapy

Therapy changed my life. It didn't erase the past — but it gave me the power to understand it, reframe it, and move forward with intention. It helped me:

• Acknowledge the impact of early childhood experiences

• Release guilt that wasn’t mine to carry

• Rebuild emotional safety within myself

• Learn that abandonment didn’t define my worth

If you've ever felt “not enough,” “unwanted,” or “different” — therapy can help you trace those beliefs to their roots. And uproot them.

✨ Tips to Begin Healing and Elevate Your Growth

If any part of my story resonates with you, know this: healing is possible. And growth is not just for the lucky — it’s for the brave. Here’s how to begin:

1. Recognise the Pattern

Take a moment to reflect: Are there recurring emotions, relationship patterns, or internal dialogues that feel heavy or painful? Awareness is the first step.

2. Seek Safe Spaces

Whether it’s therapy, support groups, or spiritual counselling — find a space where your story can be heard without judgment.

3. Nurture Your Inner Child

Write letters to your younger self. Remind her that she is loved, chosen, and whole — just as she is.

4. Set Boundaries with Compassion

You do not owe access to anyone who reopens old wounds. Your peace is a priority, not a privilege.

5. Celebrate Small Wins

Every step toward healing, no matter how small, is a win. Don’t wait for “big breakthroughs” to honour your growth.

6. Give Yourself Grace

You are not broken. You are healing. And that is a powerful, sacred journey.

💖 A Final Word from My Heart

To the woman reading this who feels tired of carrying her pain in silence — I see you. I am you.

You are not weak for feeling wounded.
You are not ungrateful for needing help.
You are not alone on this journey.

Let this be your sign to choose healing. To choose yourself. To rewrite the story. And if it starts with a single therapy session, then that’s more than enough.

You were never abandoned — you just needed to come home to you.

With love and truth,
Prof Sherry
Educate. Empower. Elevate.