Many of the couples I see in my office often appear hurt, angry and disconnected from unresolved emotional injuries suffered from their past. Some emotional injuries are severe enough and experienced as relationship traumas by one partner.
These severely impact the safety and security of a loving relationship. The wounded partner or partners have typically found a strategy to cope with the underlying emotions associated with the emotional injury. These strategies are usually unhealthy and continuously lead to a cycle of further hurt, anger and disconnection.
Examples of unhealthy coping strategies after an emotional injury:
- Withdrawal or avoidance of closeness
- Critical or contemptuous remarks
- Needy or clingy behaviors
- Anger and defensiveness
- Numbing
In her book Hold Me Tight, Sue Johnson outlines steps to forgiveness to help couples heal through emotional injuries and restore safety and security in their relationship.
A hurt partner often is a partner who is hurting and emotionally injured.
Contact me for counseling.
Porsha Jones, LMFT
Pjones@GROWcounseling.com