When I was in sixth grade, my family moved to a different town, which meant my school district changed. I was the new girl on the block. Totally insecure. And flat out ugly. I was too short, too skinny, didn’t have the hip clothes, and my hair sucked. Oh, and I had braces.

Yeah, I was a gawky, geeky looking kid.  

When I arrived the first day, one of the boys in my homeroom class started paying attention to me. I felt all gushy inside because I could tell he was a popular kid. Maybe this was finally my ticket into the “cool” click.

I quickly found out my promising new boyfriend had been playing a joke for his friends, and I was the butt of his joke. Bummer. I went from feeling nervous, insecure, and anxious to feeling like a total loser. And here I am, thirty-two years later, and I still can’t forget it. I still hold that wound in my heart.

Since the sixth grade, I’ve blossomed, matured, and don’t feel geeky and ugly anymore. But because of that incident, so many years ago, I find myself shy and insecure in new situations. It takes me a while to trust and warm up to new people.

Emotional wounds are unpleasant. They hurt and can drudge up old memories we’d rather forget if they weren’t trapped deep inside of our cells.

Sometimes, talking about emotional wounds can help, but other times, it doesn’t.

In our emotional world, there is a root cause, or what we call an origin, to our wounds. Sometimes, a wound happened so early in our lives that we simply cannot remember the depth of the wound in order to release it.

For example, in my case, what did that boy actually say to me? What were his friends doing? How did I process it? Did I process it? I don’t even remember telling my parents it happened. Why didn’t I stand up to him? Did I allow myself to cry or grieve in any way?

There are a hundred avenues to heal, but I want to share with you a few of my favorites that have been very effective in helping me heal as an adult.

1. Exercise

Try a mind/body practice, such as yoga, Pilates, or meditation. It may not be a physical workout like running, climbing, or cycling, but believe me, it is mental workout. It will force you to dive deep and process what needs to be processed.

2. Nutrition

Food is medicine. It literally has the power to heal your body. I’m talking greens, sprouts, rooted veggies, and quality grains. I’m not talking about those sugary donuts you may want to stuff down your face when you feel like a pile of crap. Use food as it was intended to be used. It’s nature’s gift to us.

3. Essential Oils

It has been scientifically proven that certain essential oils can actually help release emotional patterns. Our sense of smell accesses the limbic system of the brain, which is the base of our emotions. When you are feeling rotten, try arming yourself with essential oils. The effects are immediate. There is scientific evidence that documents patients being able to wean themselves off anti-anxiety and ant-depressant medications simply because they started diffusing wild orange in their homes.

I know the depth of each person’s emotional wounds vary from something that may seem as insignificant as a sixth grade boy teasing you in school to something much more grave, such as the death of a spouse or a child. The deeper the wound, the more paralyzed you feel.

And I also know that getting off the couch to go out for a run or taking the time to consider what you want to put in your green smoothie are not always a priority or even seem achievable when your in a state of comatose, shock, or depression.

But give it a try. Start with your aromatic sense. Move on to trying to nourish your body. And if it feels right, let it out. Cry. Scream. Write. There are many that would love to hear from you, including me.

Please let me know what has worked for you by leaving a comment below.

XO, Hayley

Hayley Hobson is an author, speaker, business coach, yogi, Pilates instructor, and holistic nutritional expert based in Boulder, CO. Her unique and intelligent style promotes strengthening while softening—empowering her client’s to heal not only their physical bodies but their hearts and minds as well. To learn more about her nutritional courses, events, and custom programs, visit hayleyhobson.com or follow her on Facebook or Twitter.

*Photo Credit: drurydrama (Len Radin) via Compfight cc