How do Protective Parts perpetuate internal struggle in childhood trauma survivors?

Complex trauma recovery is an intricate process that demands a nuanced understanding of the inner self, particularly for individuals who have endured childhood trauma. Tanner offers a unique perspective by advocating for an expansion of the Internal Family Systems framework to better address the complexities of the inner world. This approach involves recognizing and engaging with different facets of oneself, including emotions, past versions, ancestral influences, and inner guides. Tanner's insights are shaped by a belief in the necessity of holding one’s own energy, which fosters internal safety and enhances relationships. He underscores the importance of precision and a deep comprehension of one's internal experiences, arguing that traditional models may fall short in facilitating genuine healing from complex trauma. 

Key Points From This Episode: 

• How emotions motivate certain responses, actions, and thought processing patterns.

• Expanding on IFS to build a more holistic view of how we experience our inner worlds.

• The big six emotions and how emotions are different from energy.

• Why it’s important to acknowledge the absence or presence of fear.

• Insight into the various nuances of fear-based energy and the inheritance of hurt.

• How to hold that energy without numbing it or distancing yourself from it.

• How this allows you to show up for the parts of yourself that are most wounded.

Quotes

“Not only can we recover from complex trauma, but in doing so, we unlock really powerful medicinal codes about collective healing.” — Tanner [0:02:02]

“There are a lot of different ways to give form to thoughts, energies, emotions, points of view, urges, actions, responses, reactions in our inner world.” — Tanner [0:07:00]

“Emotions are hugely important sources of information as humans operating in the world. It’s when we add the zing of fear to an emotion that we start to move into unhelpful, unproductive, very challenging things to hold.” —Tanner  [0:14:26]