>
Fundabr Kahn is the founder of Inner Child Connection, Ltd., in North ook, andbr says much of our stress is stuck in the body as blocked energy. “When brwe tap into our subconscious mind, we are able to free ourselves from brhidden beliefs and trauma manifesting in unhealthy emotional and brphysical symptoms and holding us back from thriving,” she explains.
br Children often have a difficult time identifying stress, and it can brmanifest with different symptoms than in adults. “Children don’t brnecessarily have the emotional vocabulary to express what they are brfeeling. Stress often presents with them either acting out or shutting brdown and hiding their emotions. They will also regress and exhibit brbehaviors of a younger child, and have physical symptoms like loss of brappetite, sweating or a racing heartbeat. Nightmares are also common brbecause that’s when the body is at rest and the subconscious takes brover,” says Kahn.
One of the most constructive methods shebr uses is Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), also called tapping. “EFT isbr an effective self-help tool to reduce stress and anxiety, release brunresolved emotional issues and free the physical and emotional blocks brof trauma that can hold us back,” Kahn explains. This energy psychology brtechnique involves the client or practitioner gently stimulating triggerbr points on the body to release negative energy trapped in the meridians.
br She finds that children are especially responsive to the technique. brBecause their consciousness isn’t fully developed, they are often much brmore open to new healing modalities. “Kids get excited to learn a new brmethod, and I teach them to practice it on themselves. This is brempowering and allows them to take responsibility for their own brwell-being,” says Kahn.
Messages in our subconscious get brstored after any negative or positive experience and children absorb brthem from family, friends, teachers and coaches. “If a child sees their brmom is sad or angry, they may feel they are responsible and haven’t beenbr ‘good’ enough. This can lead to feelings of unworthiness and brself-doubt. If their friend sits next to someone else at lunch, they brmight feel like something is wrong with them. This gets set into their brbelief system, and I see a number of children who try to be brpeople-pleasers in order to validate their own self-worth. EFT brfacilitates the release of these messages and clears out old traumas so brthey can welcome new challenges in a healthy, productive way,” Kahn brexplains.
Kahn strongly encourages parents to lead by brexample and be mindful that their words and behaviors have power. br“Children need to hear validating messages on a daily basis. Simple brexpressions such as, ‘You are loved, you are enough,’ go a long way. brThey need to be around positive attitude and positive words, but also brunderstand whatever they are feeling is okay and the parent should not brjudge that. They can feel sadness, and yet unconditionally love brthemselves,” says Kahn.
Inner Child Connection is located in North ook. For more information, call 847-971-1221, email [email protected] or visit InnerChildConnection.com.
Carrie Jackson is an Evanston-based writer and frequent contributor to Natural Awakenings magazine. Connect at CarrieJacksonWrites.com.
