The Impact of Core Wounds on Mental Health Management

We all seem to have a unique set of experiences that trigger stress within our bodies. I’ve always noticed that certain people seem to trigger me more than others, and even certain words or phrases can set me off with internal stress.

Does stress trigger relapses of blood cancer?

And I’m certain that internal stress has played a big role in both the onset and relapses of the leukemia with which I have been diagnosed. But these triggers are such a personal thing. How do we even recognize what they are doing inside of us?

Until recently, I didn’t pay very close attention to the ways that external triggers were increasing internal stress such as anxiety, depression, worry and sadness, to name a few. While I knew that stress played a big role before, during, and after the blood cancer diagnosis, I didn’t have the in-the-moment awareness of where and when the stressors started impacting my health, both mentally and physically.

Mental health and the cancer journey

One day while scrolling Instagram, I stumbled upon an interview where an integrative oncologist was discussing the role of mental health in a cancer journey. This undoubtedly caught my attention. The interview was with a guy named Raj Jana who, along with others, created an entire platform called Liber8 where members could first notice and log triggers, then  be guided through what they call a mapping session which links the triggers to core wounds that were created by past experiences.

The core wounds subsequently cause limiting beliefs that we carry with us over time. The limiting beliefs are part of what effect how we handle and process stress. Various self paced practices are then suggested for working through the core wounds. There are also online community events that are optional to attend, and I personally tried to make it to anything I could. Before learning about Liber8, I had been through therapy, EMDR, meditation, etc., and while they were all helpful, nothing fully clicked for me until I went through the Liber8 process.

Support from others helped healing

I was part of a group of people who were going through various cancer diagnoses. One thing I realized that we all had in common was a strong need to feel seen and heard. And part of the Liber8 platform included giving each of us the space to be accepted right where we were. There was no expectation to show up in a good mood or to say the right things. Whatever was said or felt was honored and allowed.

There was support and understanding amongst the members as we shared as little or as much as we wanted. No one was pushed to do anything in either our individual or group sessions. Because of the acceptance, I opened up to more self love and confidence.

Acceptance leads me to awareness

I also gained so much more awareness of what was really causing the down feelings, nervousness and anxiety within me, and it was all much deeper than I ever understood. The support of the group helped me to blossom, and my family and closest friends really noticed the change in me.

So many of us struggle with mental health challenges, especially with a blood cancer diagnosis,  and there are many tools and practices that can really help. For me, Liber8 brought it all together. I now notice stress triggers,  and their negative effects on my well being have subsided tremendously.  What kinds of things have worked for you?