Healing and Hypnotherapy Volume 7, Special Annual Issue, 15 June 2023 | Page 17

25 Signs You Have a Wounded Inner Child
• Sexual dysfunction or sexual addiction ( often due to sexual abuse ).
Take a few moments to breathe and connect with yourself after reading this list . Likely you will feel some strong emotions ( but it ’ s okay if you don ’ t ). I encourage you to take your time and go slowly through the rest of this article , being gentle with yourself . It ’ s helpful to remember that while some , or even many , of our problems stem from childhood neglect , grudge-holding and blame will get us nowhere . People are victims of victims , meaning that the reason why our parents / guardians behaved the way they did was most likely because of their neglected upbringing , and their parents experienced the same traumas – and so on and so forth .

25 Signs You Have a Wounded Inner Child

Pay close attention to these signs . They will help you learn the general extent to which your inner child has been wounded and the level to which you feel unsafe in this world . The more signs you say “ yes ” to , the more you need to seriously consider inner child work :

• In the deepest part of me , I feel that there ’ s something terribly wrong with me .
• I experience anxiety whenever thinking about doing something new .
• I ’ m a people-pleaser and tend to lack a strong identity .
• I ’ m a rebel / misfit – I feel more alive when I ’ m in conflict with other people .
• I tend to hoard things and have trouble letting go .
• I feel guilty standing up for myself .
• I feel inadequate and “ not good enough ” as a man or woman .
• I ’ m driven to always be an A + super-achiever .
• I believe that I ’ m a terrible sinner and I ’ m afraid of going to hell .
• I constantly criticise myself for being inadequate / unworthy .
• I ’ m rigid and perfectionistic .
• I have trouble starting or finishing things .
• I ’ m ashamed of expressing strong emotions such as sadness or anger .
• I rarely get mad , but when I do , I become rage full .
• I have sex when I don ’ t want to .
• I ’ m ashamed of my bodily functions ( e . g ., pee , poo ).
• I spend too much time looking at pornography .
• I distrust everyone , including myself .
• I am an addict or have been addicted to something .
• I avoid conflict at every chance possible .
• I am afraid of people and tend to avoid them .