The Art of Healing: You Owe It to Yourself

The human condition is a multifaceted, contradictory state of being, yet it is resilient. Connection is something we all have in common. It is light in darkness, it is strength in moments of weakness, and it is God’s love in human form. Trauma opposes connectivity and resilience, raising the question of its origin. The most palpable answer is from personal experience. The reality is that trauma is a festering abscess that, if not contained promptly, has irreversible consequences.

Truthfully, trauma is an enduring part of life. In short, dealing with things we never asked for in the first place is just hard.  Obviously, life isn’t meant to be easy all the time; hardships are a stepping stone for growth. More importantly, adversity empowers us to reach our maximum potential in life, love, and self-awareness. It was cliché to even think about therapy specifically in the Black community.

For years, I wrote in a diary as a way to express myself and to get a handle on things I believed I could not talk to others about. For the most part, that sufficed until life got harder than it had ever been. In the summer of 2025, I lost three cousins in the span of a few days. I had my first therapy session the day before one of the funerals–to grieve and heal simultaneously has been something I have grown accustomed to. I had a similar experience in 2015 when a few weeks before my birthday, my aunt, who raised me, passed away. Only a couple months before that, I had two surgeries.

So, I was healing physically and grieving, too. Needless to say, it was hard. There had always been a need for me to go to therapy, but I had no idea how to go about it. I also felt all the years of journaling had helped me. It did, but like most people, I had preconceived notions about therapy. I’m happy to say I was so wrong!

The skill level that therapists have deserves far more recognition. Sure, we all have people whom we vent to. That’s just it. When you’re talking to a therapist, they are actively taking in what you’re saying and helping you develop strategies to work through the issues, not just letting you vent. They are basically helping you get to the root of the problem. My thought process has changed immensely from my sessions.

Things I agonized over felt like weights being lifted. What I appreciate most about therapy is that nothing is off-limits, even if it seems insignificant or silly, it’s not. You owe it to yourself to be whole, happy, and unburdened! I don’t have a special formula for healing, but taking the first step was the best thing I could do. It is a bit unnerving at first, but it gets easier with time, and you’ll be so glad you did.

Below this article is additional information that can hopefully help you decide to change your life for the better.

---

Link referenced from Google: https://www.dbhutah.org/reasons-to-see-a-therapist/