An Inner Sense of a Wounded Child

There is an emptiness inside, a void that never seems to fill. This person can't stay alone in peace because the feeling of emptiness overwhelms them, creating a restless urge to escape. They keep themselves constantly busy, focusing outward, filling time with activities, and engaging in things that are "valuable" to themselves or contribute to society. This becomes an addiction.

Obsessive behaviors, panic, addictions, and compensatory actions are patterns developed by a wounded inner child to escape and defend against deep pain and profound emptiness, avoiding facing themselves.

Take addiction, for example—this isn't just about dependency on substances like drugs or alcohol. It refers to any repetitive behavior we engage in to avoid feeling fear or pain. Everyone has their go-to ways to distract themselves, using certain things as fillers—like food, smoking, drinking, shopping, or hoarding—or keeping themselves endlessly busy with activities like shopping, watching TV, or participating in excessive social events.

Some forms of addiction and compensatory behaviors are even socially praised: overworking, helping others, being a caregiver or volunteer, and pursuing achievements. These behaviors serve to keep one so busy that they distract from emotions, preventing any time alone with oneself. They also reflect an attempt to fill an inner void, driving a never-ending cycle of seeking, taking, and accumulating, as though it's an endless, hopeless ritual.

Have you noticed that many people around us exhibit these behaviors? Perhaps we might even see a part of ourselves in them?

Extracted from “Healing, Hidden Within the Body”