Emotional wounds, or deep-seated psychological and emotional pain, can develop in a number of ways. Some wounds happen immediately, such as after witnessing the death of a friend. Others develop over time as a result of repeated experiences like parental neglect, unhealthy relationships, and systemic racism.

Emotional wounds impact the way we perceive and interact with the world around us, yet they can often go undetected, even by ourselves. Internalizing and externalizing behaviors often show up as a result of emotional pain but to the untrained eye can often be excused as personality traits like shyness or aggression. Instead of dismissing or shaming ourselves and others, we can learn to recognize the following four symptoms as alarm bells signaling the existence of pain and the need for healing.

SupportErinn WilliamsJune 16, 2020trauma, recovery, anxiety, Eating Disorder, depression, coping skills, symptoms of trauma, symptoms of anxiety, symptoms of depression, symptoms of eating disorders, emotional wound, resentment, retreat, lashing out, demanding