Healing Through Emotional Seasons: Inner Child Work, Anger, and Self-Reflection on the North Shore
Healing Through Emotional Seasons: Inner Child Work, Anger, and Self-Reflection on the North Shore
Just like the seasons in New England, each of us has our own seasons. Some come with warmth and clarity, others with storms and shadows.
I happen to be in mine right now.
The Emotional Storm of Summer
I thought I had made it through. July 4th passed, and I expected the usual wave of emotion to move through me. This time, it hit late—and harder than I expected.
The weeks around this time of year tend to stir up something deep within me. Maybe it’s the way the air feels, the scent of summer, the echoes of a younger me.
This year, the season brought:
A wave of anxiety
A layer of deep anger
Restless emotion
A lingering sadness underneath it all
I sat with that anger for a few days—knowing enough now not to suppress it but still wondering what sat beneath. And now I feel it: the sadness.
Not just surface sadness, but the deep, quiet ache of realization—the kind you only get when you finally see the origins of your wounds.
When you can trace your:
Chaos
Dysfunction
Deregulated nervous system...back to specific moments and memories. It’s heartbreaking.
I’ve been on this healing journey for several years—working on becoming a better man, healing the old one, and meeting the younger version of myself with love and honesty.
And while I’ve come far, this season reminds me that healing isn’t linear.
It’s layered. It’s ongoing. Sometimes you circle back—not because you’ve failed, but because you’re ready to see it differently.
Tools That Keep Me Grounded
Over the past few days, I found myself reverting to old patterns: Overanalyzing. Freezing in the overwhelm of emotion.
But unlike the past, I’m no longer stuck.
I have tools now—rituals that ground me and practices that anchor me, including:
Meditation
Drumming
Music
Writing
Breathwork
Movement
My Rituals When Emotions Rise
When these emotions come up and I need to process them, I lean into my rituals:
Connect to nature — even if indoors
Move my body — biking, walking, lifting, any somatic release
Eat intentionally — Whole Foods rich in vitamins, minerals, and nutrients
Stay hydrated — especially with electrolytes to support the nervous system
Get sunlight — 10–20 minutes on my face to regulate mood and stress response
Because the moment any of these are off is the moment I find myself stuck in old patterns.
This Morning Was One of Those Moments
Waking up this morning, I knew I needed to go to the gym, but I was in a paralyzed freeze state where anger was taking control - not allowing me to move and keeping me stuck in the same place I used to be years ago.
I didn’t make it to the gym first thing
But I got out of bed within 10 minutes
I packed my stuff and went to the office
I found myself connecting to nature indoors, repotting plants, hands in the dirt
It was the closest thing I could do to stay grounded
Now, at 11:30 AM, I’m finally at the gym—using the hour between clients.
Walking on this treadmill, I realized:
This is all I’ve needed.
The movement is helping me release the stored emotions in my body.
I can feel myself vibrating, but now I’m breathing. I’m clear. I’m processing.
And from that place… I know what I need to do next.
Where the Wound Began
This current wave took me back to when I was 15.
The way I was recently treated reawakened how I felt then:
Unseen
Dismissed
Not believed in
I didn’t feel like I was enough.
I didn’t feel like I deserved more.
I felt the words that were spoken to me at age 15 come rushing back—loud, sharp, and paralyzing.
I didn’t feel secure. I felt like I was always walking on eggshells.
As a man finding his way in the world, I can tell you—this is no way to live.
I was taught that silence was the way. I was taught that’s how you fight.
And I’ve spent years walking away from that mentality. Healing and creating that new version of myself.
I remembered escaping life with:
Weed
Cigarettes
Distraction
Numbing out
That first relationship at the end of June into July—it marked me.
Now, decades later, my body still remembers.
So here I am.
Feeling it all again.
But this time, with awareness.
This time, with intention.
The Hard Questions I Ask Myself
When I feel like this, I don’t run. I ask myself the questions that matter:
What is this emotion really trying to tell me?
Who does this feeling actually belong to—me now, or a younger version of me?
When was the first time I felt this way?
What did I need back then that I didn’t receive?
What am I still holding onto that’s no longer mine to carry?
What patterns am I repeating to feel safe—even when they no longer serve me?
How do I reconnect to the truth of who I am, beneath the fear, the shame, the stories?
Can I offer compassion to the parts of me that still feel stuck in the past?
What rituals, practices, or connections do I need to lean on right now?
What would I say to the younger version of me if he was sitting in front of me today?
Final Reflection: This Season, I Remember
This season, I’m not running from the emotions.
I’m honoring them.
Sitting with them.
Trusting that everything coming up is doing so because I now have the strength and support to move through it.
Growth doesn’t always look like progress.
Sometimes, it looks like standing still, breathing, and letting your roots grow deeper.
So if you’re in your season too—whatever that looks like:
Don’t rush it.
Feel it.
Name it.
Hold it.
Ask yourself what your soul is really asking for.
Because healing doesn’t mean never going back. It means going back—with love.
🧭 If You’re Looking for Emotional Healing or Inner Child Work Near Danvers, MA
As a wellness practitioner in Danvers, MA, I often remind clients from Beverly, Salem, Peabody, and the North Shore that this work isn’t always pretty—but it’s necessary.
My healing and coaching practice supports men and women throughout the North Shore—including Beverly, Salem, Peabody, and surrounding towns—with inner child healing, nervous system regulation, emotional resilience work, and holistic rituals for personal growth. If you’re navigating your own emotional season and looking for a safe space to do the work, my office in Danvers is here for you.
