Apply pressure to your bleeder

Wounds hurt, especially open wounds. No one wants to make the pain worse after you’ve suffered a severe wound. Pressure will increase the pain of an open wound. It might sound counterintuitive, but in order to heal an open wound, you have to make it hurt more… at least temporarily.

This essential truth in trauma care is also true in emotional or mental health. Sometimes, you must apply direct pressure on the area that hurts the most to make it heal. You might have to use a bit of temporary pain on the front end to heal the heart wounds on the back end.

In a dog-eat-dog world you will get bit from time to time. We finally live in a world that dares to admit emotional and mental health challenges. No one gets healthy by hiding their wounds and challenges. The first step to healing is realizing you are hurting.

Everyone will encounter some emotional or mental health challenges at some point in their lives. Whether it’s anxiety, depression, stress, or trauma, these would hurt just as much as physical injuries. They just don’t leave a scar others can see. With this article, I want to draw parallels from trauma care to inspire you to lean into your mental and emotional well-being, especially when it hurts.

Acknowledging your struggles is a vital first step toward healing, but understanding how to move forward can be daunting. Just as an open wound requires pressure to heal, so too does emotional pain. Confronting your feelings head-on is essential, even if it seems counterintuitive. Ignoring painful emotions leaves you open to deeper wounds in the future. Applying pressure to these wounds is also a necessary part of healing.

The next step to getting healthy is acknowledging your pain. Realizing that you are feeling anxious, depressed, or overwhelmed is a crucial first step. More importantly, it is essential to identify the cause of the pain. Writing down your feelings, talking to someone you trust, or expressing yourself creatively can help you articulate your emotions and face your wounds.

People go to the emergency room because healing shouldn’t be done alone. Just as a wound requires care from medical professionals, emotional and mental challenges benefit from professional support. Find a trusted source to help you walk through your pain. Therapists, counselors, or support groups provide valuable tools tailored to your unique situation. Seeking help is a vital step toward healing.

While engaging with your pain is vital, it’s equally important to be honest with yourself. Healing takes time, and experiencing ups and downs is part of the process. No one figures it all out overnight. Practicing a little self-compassion creates space to get to the source of your pain and treat it correctly. It’s okay not to feel okay while working through your issues. Acknowledgment is a significant part of the journey.

Though the process may be uncomfortable, confronting mental and emotional wounds can make you a stronger person in the long run. Each time you face fear, sit with an uncomfortable emotion, or seek help, you strengthen the emotional muscles that will support you in future challenges. Like the body that heals stronger after an injury, you can build emotional resilience through engaging with difficult experiences.

I know it hurts. No one wants to make a painful situation hurt more, but sometimes, the only way to get healthy is to apply pressure directly to the bleeder. Mental and emotional wounds, like physical wounds, require care and attention. Applying pressure may lead to temporary pain, but it’s vital to heal the bleeder.