The Backpack
At birth, each child receives a tiny backpack. Into the backpack go all life's unhealed hurts, real or imagined slights, untreated traumas, grief and loss.
The backpack stretches to accommodate all untreated trauma throughout their life.
Each apology or hug removes a trauma. Hopefully, the burden is light.
Untreated trauma is held in the backpack by secrets.
In Gentle Sobriety, we believe late-stage addicts and chronically addicted teens use chemicals to suppress memories stored ion their backpack. It helps them keep the secret and numbs the pain and shame they feel. Chemicals help them to feel normal, not afraid.
They are so traumatized they do not recognize the weight they carry eventually bends a small back and curves their spine.
Untreated trauma residing in a backpack drives addiction and contributes significantly to teen suicide.
Keeping secrets of past trauma creates a “chi-ult.” The child remains frozen at the emotional age when the trauma took place even though their physical body grows into adulthood.
Gentle Sobriety encourages addicts to ask, "What would happen if I told my secret?"
Opening the backpack is a mental scrub because the physical injury has long ago healed although the scar is tender.
Don't keep secrets. Tell someone. Free yourself..
