Recovery from emotional wounds

The process of recovering from emotional wounds

I found it entertaining to revisit the classic program Tattoo Nightmares. The program centered on an ink shop that helped customers fix tattoos that turned out badly or were the product of a bad choice. Artists on the program talk to the guests, learn their backstory, and then use that information to create a design that will hide the terrible tattoo.

The ability to hide over a terrible tattoo or integrate it into a new design has always intrigued me. The outcomes are mind blowing.

On rare instances, visitors would bring their own birthmarks or surgical scars to be tattooed onto the artwork. The ones I found the most fascinating were those like these. For others, this meant transforming a potentially life-threatening situation (major surgery, for example) into a reason for joy via the use of vibrant patterns and bright colors. A topic of conversation has emerged from something many people had previously tried to ignore or conceal because of its negative connotations.

Acne scars

It makes me think of counsel. We all have scabs and scars to show for our experiences, I was told. Both of these terms refer to different things.

We gather experiences and memories as we go through life. Stories from the front lines, tales of triumph, and all in between. It may take some time to recover from the scars left by past confrontations, in which we or others were injured or caused harm.

No injury goes unnoticed. Blood rushes to the location of an injury and platelets begin blocking the bloodflow physiologically speaking. When we are hurt, our platelets clot the wound so that no more blood can get in, and other blood components rush in to aid.

Scar tissue eventually replaces the healed scab. Occasionally, this scar fades away. When someone suffers a severe injury, the effect may last a lifetime and even develop along with the individual. Scars are visual proof of past injury and may carry significant narrative weight.

Most individuals don’t mind having scars. They’re a reminder of hurt done in the past, but after they heal, they may be a fascinating topic of conversation. Some people may want to hide a scar, while others could use it as a talking point. Scars, however, are not the same as scabs.

During the healing process, scabs need some downtime. In certain cases, scabs are bandaged so that they may heal without further intervention. The improper care of others may lead to infection. Infected scabs have a red, swollen, itchy, elevated appearance and a general air of rage. For some, the condition worsens until puss oozes from every orifice. Scabs won’t heal if they aren’t properly cared for or if people keep picking at them.

Life’s wounds leave scars.

Indeed, this is the case with our life. Life’s injuries are a given. Even if we avoid danger and try to get along with everyone, it’s just the way the world and life work. There will always be bumps and bruises. I think whether or not we end up with a permanent scab or scar depends on how we respond to these wounds.

As I said before, being careful when moving about with an injury is necessary. A bandage or other covering is usually necessary for a scab to heal properly. Exposure to the environment may slow the healing process for wounds.

Surely you can think of persons you’ve met who appear to be permanently stuck in the’scab’ of some emotional wound. It’s as if every time you bring up a specific “wound” in conversation, they reopen the sore, digging deep into the area and bringing out all the pain connected with it.

Others, however, who have had time to recover and the resources at their disposal, may be able to discuss the same occurrence from a more objective, historical vantage point. By approaching the discussion from a position of healing rather of pain, we may make progress. Still others may come out as hostile or dismissive when you bring up the subject of trauma or damage. These folks seem to be carrying around open wounds from their past. The difference between having a scab and having a scar is night and day.

I‘m not sure there’s a silver bullet for turning emotional wounds into permanent scars, but I do believe the following pieces of advice are worth remembering:

Forgiveness

To forgive “seven times seventy” is an encouragement from Jesus (Matthew 18:22). In other words, rather often. The same goes for individuals who wrong us as much as it does for those who forgive us. The scars left by life’s hurts may be lessened with the aid of forgiveness.

Covering

When dealing with a wound, it’s crucial to give it time to heal. In most cases, bandaging the wound helps. If you’re trying to heal from something painful, covering it up may mean not sharing it with everyone except the ones who can assist.

One of the most visible examples of this is the lifestyle of Hollywood celebrities. When people experience tragedy, they typically withdraw from public view, hiding from the world until they are ready to talk about their pain and recovery. Some individuals we encounter on our life’s path will be able to aid us in our healing process, while others may infect our wounds with words of gossip and judgment.

We must give ourselves time to recover.

Put down the picks

“Cease your plucking!” Is a word often used by parents to describe a wound such as a scratch or bite. Our lives are no different. Scarring is not inevitable when wounds are allowed to heal on their own, and the healing process is slowed considerably when wounds and scabs are repeatedly scraped.

Scratching an injury may cause more damage and even infection. If you scratch at the scar often, you may end up making it much bigger. It’s vital to be patient and let everything heal naturally, even scars.

Wounds of any kind, whether fresh or old, have a tale to tell, both on the body and in the mind. The two are not interchangeable. Covering up and forgiving one another might be helpful during this period of healing.