The Long, Challenging, But Worthwhile Healing From Trauma
Each person you have encountered, whether at work, out on the street, or a bus, is hurting in their own way. Everyone has been through a painful and traumatic experience. Although you have no control over what already happened in the past, you do have control over how you heal. Healing is rarely easy—it's tricky, messy, and scary, but it's possible.
In today’s episode of Radically Loved, Wil Wheaton shares the trauma that he experienced growing up and how he was able to heal from it. He talks about his struggles during his healing from trauma and what you can do to also work through yours. Listen as Wil takes you along his journey so that you can also heal and find radical love as he has.
If you’re struggling with trauma and looking for healing, this episode is for you!
Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:
Find out how to confront your pain and trauma by reflection and writing.
Learn how to free yourself from toxicity and undergo healing from trauma through communication, therapy, and reading.
Discover how to break generational trauma with an authoritative parenting style.
Resources
Episode Highlights
[03:09] The Healing Process of Transformation
Reflection is a constant part of his posttraumatic recovery process.
Separate who you are now from who you were when something happened to you to make healing possible.
Remember this separation of identity when unwanted flashbacks happen until you feel safe.
[06:39] Confronting Pain and Trauma
The hardest part for Wil was writing about how exploited he and his sister were.
Their parents manipulated him and his sister into starring in the film The Curse and gaslighted them.
Rage was a natural component of his grief process, with which writing helped him heal.
In healing, it's essential to talk about your emotions and experiences—letting go of your shame to achieve catharsis.
Don't define your success by somebody else's terms.
[18:03] How to Re-father Yourself
Treat yourself with patience, love, and respect.
Think about the person who means the world to you. Talk to yourself the way you would to that person.
Due to his parents' emotional abuse, Wil had to learn to listen to his own voice—acknowledging his fears, loneliness, and anxiety.
Choosing yourself is an ongoing part of healing from trauma.
[18:26] “There’s a person in this world who means so much to you and you wouldn’t ever want a single bad thing to happen to them and you would do anything that it takes to protect them from being hurt. Think about the way you talk to that person. Talk to yourself that way. Why would you talk to yourself any other way?” - Click Here to Tweet This
[21:36] Breaking Away From Toxic Relationships
Wil had entered toxic, dysfunctional relationships as a teenager.
When he met his wife, he wasn't interested in dating but eventually realized that her energy was different—making him feel safe.
They identified the toxicity in their previous relationships and avoided those things. Instead, their relationship was built on respect and communication.
He went to weekly therapies and family counseling.
He also read books on raising children to break generational trauma, eventually settling on an authoritative parenting style.
[24:52] “Everybody has to make mistakes, and everybody has to learn from mistakes, and everybody has to be supported when they make their mistakes.” - Click Here to Tweet This
[26:31] Authoritative Parenting
Permissive parents let their kids do anything they want, making them feel unsafe.
Authoritarian parenting is super strict and raises scared children.
Authoritative parenting strikes a balance between permissive and authoritarian styles.
It teaches children to make boundaries and responsible decisions, providing them with the tools to become fully functioning adults.
[27:39] “Authoritarians just create other authoritarians: weak, scared people who get a sense of power and comfort by having someone control them while they try to control another person. It’s extremely unhealthy.” - Click Here to Tweet This
[30:14] Breaking the Cycle
The process of healing from trauma is different for everybody.
Since recovery is personalized, focus on what's important to you.
You are your best advocate, so show up for yourself and be the person you need.
Remember to back up your words with aligned action.
[31:54] “When we become parents, we make a promise. The promise is, ‘I’m going to do the very best that I can to put a confident, compassionate, empathetic adult into this world.’ Part of upholding that promise is doing work that is hard.” - Click Here to Tweet This
[35:03] Wil’s Powerful Experience
In August 2020, Wil had a tonic-clonic seizure due to a migraine.
Tune in to the full episode to discover his metaphysical, highly symbolic experience that led to his healing and freedom.
[48:46] “Everyone is a child of somebody’s, and every child should feel radically loved.” - Click Here to Tweet This
About Wil
Wil Wheaton is an actor, blogger, New York Times bestselling author, and a champion of geek culture. His acting career began in 1986 with acclaimed roles in the movies Stand By Me and Toy Soldiers. He currently splits his time between acting and writing.
He's the author of Just A Geek, Dancing Barefoot, The Happiest Days of Our Lives, Hunter, and Dead Trees Give No Shelter. He has also written columns for Salon.com, LA Weekly, the Suicide Girls Newswire, and the Washington Post.
Wil has earned recognition as an outspoken mental health advocate, sharing his journey in his blog and as a public speaker for the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
If you want to connect with Wil, visit his website. You can also check out his books here.
Enjoy the Podcast?
The healing process can be a challenging, but keep in mind that it is worthwhile. If you felt radically loved from listening to this podcast, subscribe and share it with the people you love!
Love to give us 5 stars? If you do, we’d love a review from you. Help us reach more people and make them feel loved.
Do you want to help people break free from their pain and trauma and find healing? A simple way is to share what you’ve learned today on social media.
Don’t forget to follow and message us on these platforms!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rosieacosta/
Twitter: https::twitter.com/rosieacosta
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/radicallylovedrosie
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itsrosieacosta
To feeling radically loved,
Rosie