Self-kindness can help trauma recovery by making healing work feel safer and more sustainable. Harsh, critical self-talk often increases nervous system distress and can make triggers, shutdown, dissociation, or overwhelm worse. In difficult times, when the nervous system is on red alert, self-kindness can help calm it. Self-kindness can help you to stay present during difficult situations and can increase your nervous system’s coping abilities.
Many parts respond better to curiosity, reassurance, and patience than to pressure or criticism.
When the nervous system is less activated, you will have more energy and resources for therapy or healing work on your own.
This page is part of the Understanding the Trauma Healing Process section of the CommuniDID site, which explains why recovery can feel slow, confusing, or discouraging and why experiences like grief, exhaustion, and resistance are common during the healing process.
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