Episode 35 -Healing from Trauma: Self-Love, Emotional Healing, and Finding Your Voice with Pamela Michaux
By Jessica Garrison
Episode trigger warning: mentions of abuse
Looking to start your journey of healing but not sure where to begin? Our next guest, Pamela Michaux, joins us from Malta to share lived experiences. She describes herself as a chameleon, adaptable, and someone who is able to go with the flow.
A huge part of Pamela’s journey, she says, was learning to love herself, something that so many of us have to learn to do. We think we like ourselves enough, but once we’re faced with harsh reality, it’s apparent that there’s a lot of unhealed layers. Allow the things that hurt you to have space; If you constantly push it down, then there’s no room for the hurt to breathe and, therefore, no room to heal. Pamela says healing is a journey—there’s ups and downs, but you have to keep putting one foot in front of the other. It’s easy to blame yourself for past mistakes, but it’s time to forgive yourself and learn from it.
Pamela shares with us that one of the most important parts of the healing journey is to share your emotions. It’s difficult at first, especially if you’re not used to doing it. So many times, especially as children, we’re told to suck it up or to hide our emotions so we don’t make others uncomfortable. Your feelings are valid and just because someone else has different emotions about an experience doesn’t make yours any less real. It’s only when we explore our emotions do we understand ourselves better. Pamela encourages everyone to practice naming your emotions and writing them down. Bit by bit, you’re able to improve on sharing your emotions with others in a way that is healthy and freeing.
Remember, there is no shame in asking for help. It’s okay not to be okay. We try to be strong for those around us, but we are not responsible for other people. Pamela serves as a great reminder that only you can tell your story. At The Embracing Layers Network, we work so hard so women have as many resources as they need to be able to reach out and get the treatment they deserve. Pamela says the only person you have to tolerate is yourself, which reminds me of something similar a friend told me in high school. We’ll be with ourselves forever, so you ought to make sure you like yourself.
Pamela gives us a great quote in the episode: “The only way to reduce your fears is to face them.” She admits it’s scary to do so, but if you continue to run from your fears, you’ll be running forever. Her memoir, Mundele Diaries, is available on Amazon where she dives deeper into her story with vulnerability, grace, and strength. Listen to Pamela’s episode and start healing from the inside out today.
Ways to Engage: Start asking: Next time you want to go to someone for advice, stop and think about if someone you love came to you with the same question. What would you tell them? How would you speak to them? Take your own advice, be patient, and trust yourself.
Resources:
Sexual Abuse
Call 800-656-HOPE (4673)
Text HOPE to 64673
Chat online with someone at RAINN.org
Physical Abuse
Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
Text START to 88788
Chat online with someone at TheHotline.org