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Emotional healing looks different from one person to the next. This transformative process is deeply personal and the 7 stages of emotional healing become a marathon and not a sprint.
Although this journey can feel overwhelming at times, it’s important to remember that the stages of healing are unique to each individual. By working through emotions, however, a person can heal.
It doesn’t matter if you’re supporting a loved one as they navigate challenging times or if you’re looking for holistic emotional recovery for yourself — this article has everything you need to learn comfort and insight.
Denial is the first stage in healing emotional trauma. After emotional pain is sustained, a person might feel the need to shut down or completely dismiss their feelings. This is known as denial.
You might hear a person say that they’re fine when they’re not. Even as they struggle internally, this stage of denial makes it difficult for a person to accept that a painful situation is, in fact, a reality.
Why this stage matters:
Denial works to prevent a person from being inundated by their emotions. This stage lets them build their strength emotionally as they prepare to face reality, especially after overcoming emotional disorders.
Anger comes after denial and is the second stage of healing. Anger might result because a person feels that the situation they’re in is unfair. They might be mad at themselves, someone else, or the world around them.
It’s not unusual for a person to feel angry at the circumstances that made them feel this emotional pain. They can even internalize this anger if they can’t handle their situation differently.
Since anger is a very powerful emotion, it can lead to destruction if it’s not reined in. Although these stages of healing all serve a purpose, they need to be channeled positively, working to enact an emotional change.
Why this stage matters:
Anger lets a person release their feelings of frustration. This motivator helps them push for change but must be channeled constructively. A person might consider:
When anger is bottled up, it can lead to physical harm.
Bargaining is the third stage of the emotional healing process and is a relief from emotional pain. It’s common for people to experience thoughts where they wonder what they could have done differently. They may also negotiate with themselves or a higher power to find ways of easing their pain.
It’s common to bargain when hope feels lost, as it offers a type of control over the pain, or even power. However, bargaining is counterproductive. This “what-if” cycle doesn’t allow a person to move forward and keeps them stagnant in place.
Why this stage matters:
Bargaining helps a person accept their hardships. Although they feel powerless, bargaining doesn’t help them to heal and accept reality so they can make space to grow.
Depression is the next stage. It is a deep-rooted sadness that can also feel like despair or hopelessness.
This pressing feeling can make it hard for a person to get through their day and is often accompanied by understanding the situation they’re in. Once a person accepts their reality, depression tends to sink in.
This is when it’s common for a person to isolate themselves from friends and loved ones. They might withdraw from activities they used to love and enjoy. They may also report feeling numb to their emotions.
Depression should be acknowledged so a person can heal from their feelings instead of suppressing them, as it’s a crucial part of healing to eventually live a joyful life.
Why this stage matters:
Depression lets a person accept and process how they’re feeling. By embracing these emotions, they can heal and begin to rebuild their lives.
This is also the stage of emotional healing when a person must seek some type of support. When depression and anxiety are left unaddressed, more serious mental health issues may arise.
Acceptance is the part of emotional healing that serves as a turning point. As a person accepts reality, they can make positive changes to their situation. Although a person still experiences emotional trauma and pain during this stage, they’re able to begin healing internally, feeling a type of peace with their emotions.
This is the stage when new experiences take shape as a person finds meaning and learns to live with their new normal. If they’re grieving a divorce, for example, a person would not have to “get over” the loss of their marriage but would accept that the marriage has ended and find ways of growing and healing.
Why this stage matters:
By accepting a person’s new normal, they can release the feelings that make it difficult to heal. This stage lets a person release a lot of the pain while understanding that there is hope. Until they can accept their new normal, it’s difficult to move forward and heal, leaving them in a stagnant place emotionally.
Forgiveness has many faces. It’s a necessary part of healing, but it might be directed at:
Since forgiveness looks like many things to many people, it’s important to use this stage to release any residual anger and resentment. This may feel like a weight is being lifted from a person’s shoulders. Forgiving someone for their actions doesn’t mean that what they did is forgotten, but works to release pain.
Forgiveness is a difficult stage for many people. If you’ve been deeply hurt by someone else, this can be challenging to overcome. However, forgiveness lets a person move past the emotional strain of the events holding them back.
Why this stage matters:
Forgiveness can release the emotions that prevent emotional healing. Resentment and bitterness make it difficult to focus on the future and keep a person mired in the past.
After a person experiences all the stages of emotional healing, they can begin to move forward with their lives. During this stage, a person focuses on finding happiness and growing emotionally and spiritually. They accept their reality and are prepared to live their lives, finding new passions that bring them joy.
Just because a person moves forward doesn’t mean they forget about their past. This stage is about striking a balance and learning from past experiences.
They embrace their healing journey and learn how to incorporate their newfound healing skills into everyday life. From the 7 stages of emotional healing comes newfound resilience and strength.
Why this stage matters:
It’s essential for a person to completely heal. The only way they can do this is by moving forward.
Self-care is a vital part of any emotional healing journey. As you implement self-care through hobbies, therapy, exercise, and more, you’ll develop a stronger sense of resilience, helping you as you heal. Since the 7 stages of emotional healing are often filled with challenges, it becomes increasingly important for a person to nurture themselves.
Numerous types of self-care activities can offer comfort and stability during trying times. Here are some common types of self-care to consider:
When you introduce a self-care routine into your daily healing process, you can create the basis for a productive emotional healing journey. Although the entire process of healing takes time, by practicing self-care — even in small amounts — you can make a tremendous difference in these 7 stages of emotional healing.
Although it can be very difficult to heal emotionally, fully embracing the 7 stages of emotional healing is the best path forward, and one that’s necessary to take. Each step represents a larger piece of a purposeful puzzle, so take the time to process your feelings while understanding that everyone heals at their own pace. What matters is surrounding yourself with positivity and with people who support your healing journey.
Emotional healing means finding your inner peace and paving the way forward one step at a time. Modern Holistic Health is committed to your spiritual and emotional healing.
We offer hypnosis, guided hypno meditation, mental health services, and more. Our dedicated staff is committed to your emotional well-being, so contact us today and book your appointment.
