The More You Heal, The More You Remember

Have you ever been deep in your healing journey, only to have old memories suddenly resurface? Details you didn't even realize you had forgotten. It can feel unsettling, like your mind is playing tricks on you, but in reality, it's a sign of progress. Trauma isn't just stored in the past; it's imprinted in the body and brain, sometimes hidden until you're strong enough to face it. As you heal, your nervous system slowly unlocks these suppressed memories because you're finally in a place where you can process and release them. Healing isn't just about moving forward; it's about reclaiming parts of yourself that were once buried in survival mode.

Healing from trauma isn't a straight path; it's a spiral, a journey of uncovering, processing, and reclaiming yourself. At first, you might only remember fragments, like blurry snapshots from a life you barely recognize. But as you heal, truly heal, you start unlocking more.

I know this feeling all too well. For years, I thought I had processed my past, that I had made peace with what I remembered. But as I grew, as I stepped deeper into my healing, and more memories surfaced...details I had long suppressed, emotions I had buried just to survive. At first, it felt like a betrayal, like my own mind was turning against me. But I came to realize something powerful: this wasn't a setback. It was proof that my nervous system finally felt safe enough to show me the truth.

How the Brain Protects You from Trauma

When you experience trauma, your brain's main goal is survival. The amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for detecting danger, goes into overdrive, while the prefrontal cortex, which controls logical thinking and memory recall, starts to shut down. Meanwhile, the hippocampus, which processes and stores memories, can become impaired, causing certain memories to be suppressed or fragmented.

Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, one of the leading experts in trauma research and author of The Body Keeps the Score, explains int this way: "Trauma is not just a story about the past; it is a current imprint on the body and brain." Your brain isn't erasing memories...it's tucking them away, keeping them hidden until it senses you are in a place where you can safely process them. This is why so many trauma survivors only recall certain details years later, after they've started doing deep healing work.

Why You Remember More as You Heal

I used to think that once I had worked through a traumatic experience, that was it...I had faced it, processed it, and moved on. But trauma doesn't work that way. It's stored in layers, woven into the nervous system, waiting for the right moment to be fully acknowledged. As you engage in healing practices, whether it's therapy, meditation or shadow work...your brain and your body begin to function differently. The prefrontal cortex regains its ability to process emotions, and the hippocampus starts integrating those lost memories. That's why, seemingly out of nowhere, a song, a smell, or a specific situation might trigger a memory you had completely forgotten.

Dr. Judith Herman, psychiatrist and author of "Trauma and Recovery", describes healing as a layered process: "The recovery process unfolds in three stages: establishing safety, reconstructing the trauma story, and reconnecting with ordinary life." This means that in the early stages of healing, your brain may still be shielding you. But as you rebuild your sense of safety; physically, emotionally, and spiritually...your mind allows those hidden pieces to arise to the surface. Not to overwhelm you, but because you are ready to integrate them into your truth.

How to Navigate the Process of Remembering

When the past resurfaces, it can feel like a tidal wave, threatening to pull you under. But these memories aren't here to drown you; they're rising because you're finally strong enough to face them. Here's how to support yourself when this happens:

1. Acknowledge That it's a Sign of Healing

Instead of fearing these memories, remind yourself: I am remembering because I am healing. My body and mind trust me now.

2. Practice Nervous System Regulation

Trauma healing happens through the body. Try grounding techniques like deep breathing, yoga, or sound healing to calm your nervous system as you process what's coming up.

3. Journal Your Experiences

Writing things down can help organize your thoughts, release emotions, and bring clarity to the memories surfacing.

4. Seek Support

Healing doesn't happen in isolation. Whether through therapy, trauma-informed coaching, or supportive communities, allow yourself to be held by those who understand.

5. Engage in Healing Modalities That Feel Right for You

Sound baths, meditation, movement, and spiritual practices can help integrate these memories in a way that feels safe and empowering.

You Are Not Broken...You Are Remembering

The fact that your mind is unlocking these memories isn't a sign that you're regressing...it's proof of how far you've come. Your nervous system no longer has to keep them locked away because you are no longer just surviving. You are healing. You are reclaiming every lost piece of yourself. If memories are surfacing for you right now, know that you are not alone. Meet them with compassion. This is the next step in your journey to freedom.

Be Raw

Be Real

Be You

Love,

Sunny

Resources for Further Healing

• "The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel van der Kolk

• "Trauma and Recovery" by Judith Herman

• "Walking the Tiger: Healing Trauma" by Peter Levine