Losing my twin 14 months ago is the catalyst for resurfacing resolved emotions and trauma from my childhood. The psychological impact of losing her is profound. It has triggered feelings I had dealt with. Writing helps to soften some of my experiences, but my experiences and how things have played out for me and my twin, are still rooted in my childhood.

The question is do you really heal from trauma or is it something you simply find a place for? Does it also depend on how much trauma you've had to endure, particularly if your trauma spans years as mine has?

Childhood experiences

Childhood experiences can significantly shape our emotional landscape and how we perceive ourselves and others. If someone didn't receive sufficient emotional support or nurturing during childhood, they may internalise their thoughts on feeling inadequate or unworthy. When faced with the loss of a loved one, these beliefs may resurface, intensifying the grieving process and complicating their ability to cope.

Trauma and abuse

It is common that the loss of a loved one can reignite feelings of resolved pain and anger through what happens to them. Trauma can deeply impact our ability to let go of our experiences, making it even more challenging to navigate the grieving process. Grieving and healing can take years to work through.

Recognising the connections

Recognising the connection between past experiences and your present struggles is a crucial step towards healing. It is important to explore and process your grief and develop coping strategies to navigate the loss and to revisit the underlying emotional wounds from childhood. Therapy can help individuals learn to challenge negative beliefs about themselves, cultivate self-compassion and build healthier relationships moving forward.

My writing helps with mental health, clarity and helps me to place things better.

Ilana Estelle is a mental health and wellbeing advocate who combines educational insight with her personal experience of living with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. She holds diplomas in Counselling, Diet and Nutrition, Nutritional Therapy, Psychotherapy and Counselling, and Stress Management. Through her writing, Ilana supports others in navigating their emotional, mental, and physical health challenges. In addition to writing for The CP Diary, her work has appeared in healthy lifestyle magazines. Ilana is also the author of three books: Cerebral Palsy: A Story – Finding the Calm After the Storm, Spirituality, Healing and Me, and Survival: The Covid Years – Time for Change.

Most people who read this blog

went on to read these blogs next
Date 26 July 2026
Author Ilana Estelle

Living with Difference

Seen, Misjudged, Rarely Understood For most of my life, I lived in the dark. Not because I didn't know I was different, but because I didn't yet have the understanding to explain why life always felt harder than it seemed to be ...
Read more
Date 24 July 2026
Author Ilana Estelle

The Hidden Effects of Loss

Some consequences aren't immediate, they're cumulative It's five months into four years through twin loss, and I've split another tooth. On its own, it's an ordinary event. But it's an event that made me stop and look back ...
Read more
Date 19 July 2026
Author Ilana Estelle

What Writing Taught Me About Self-Understanding

How writing became more than a creative outlet When I started writing, I had no idea where it would lead. I simply needed somewhere to put my thoughts – a place to make sense of experiences I struggled to understand ...
Read more
1 2 3 681

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to receive regular updates

Enter your details below to be the first to receive updates on new articles on my blog.