Why healing the inner child wounds can empower us and transform us.
Healing the inner child can be a very powerful way to address all sorts of forms of dis-ease, unhealthy beliefs, and conditioning that keeps us small, keeps us in sabotaging life patterns. How we experience and see the world as a child often shapes how we show up as an adult. And this is no different for the highly empathic or sensitive child who can find the modern world a harsh place. Empaths and HSP’s struggle to thrive in life because they have struggled to find healthy ways to survive and create healthy boundaries in their childhood.
No matter how healthy or unhealthy or childhood was we all can benefit from healing the inner child wounds that show up in our adult life. That form of archetypal and personality traits, that specifically keep us stick in the survival archetypal traits.
Healing The Inner Child If Your An Empath Or Highly Sensitive Person
So many HSP’s and empaths struggle because of their level of sensitivity and heightened awareness.
Highly sensitive people are generally more sensitive to their own wounding and surroundings. The highly sensitive empath takes that a bit further and they will sense the energy and emotional pain of others and in places . Some of us also take on the energetic imprints or physical pain of others, when we haven’t learned healthy boundaries and how to harness our spiritual and sensitive gifts.
Many sensitives and empaths are the Spiritual Seers, the Spiritual Forecasters, Psychic, Mediums, Starseeds, Earthseeds and Wayshowers. Which comes with it’s own difficulties and challenges.
Every HSP and Empath is unique but like everyone in life, they will also have their own unique gifts, own unique personal challenges and trauma healing the inner child can help us tap into those spiritual gifts we have shut down, learn how to harness or sensitive gifts in a powerful way.
Inner Child Healing – The Highly Sensitive Child
The highly sensitive child/person has such heightened awareness than those around them that they can see, hear, feel, and interpret things to a greater degree than most people couldn’t imagine. The HSP child will often be viewed as too sensitive, too weak, too childlike, irrational, naive …
These natural gifts and traits often trigger fear and misunderstanding in the parents, siblings, and caregivers around them which is projected onto the child. They are often taught that who they are at a core level is flawed, bad, wrong, not enough. Told to toughen up, be brave, be bold, shut down their emotions, act differently; basically not be their sacred self.
Many highly sensitive children are highly empathic, intuitive and even psychic. This again can trigger tremendous fear in those around them which the child senses. So much so the child will shut down their natural traits, their natural state of being. That is why inner child work is highly recommended for empaths and the highly sensitive person.
Soul Empowerment From Healing The Inner Child
So many highly sensitive people including highly sensitive children often don’t know where they fit in. This can create a great degree of inner conflict especially when we are living in a very noisy, materialistic society. A culture that is often embedded with self-preservation and self-success than any on compassion and deep humanity for others around us.
Inner Child work can be extremely healing for the HSP who struggles to honour themself and their sensitivity. It is spiritually empowering for the empath or HSP who can’t say no and struggles with boundaries. For those who too easily take on other people’s drama or pain.
In my one to one sessions and inner child programs for sensitives and empaths. I address different aspects of the inner child. Working on the wounded child, abandoned child, the eternal child and the more positive aspects of the inner child. It is extremely healing and empowering to address underlying triggers where you felt traumatised, abandoned or disempowered. Those experiences where we have shut down mentally, physically, emotionally, or spiritually.
Unlock Your Gifts From Healing The Inner Child
Clients and therapists experience many benefits and insights from inner child work. Even simply listening to inner child healing guided meditations that have been created by someone qualified to do. Because so many HSP’s haven’t learned to own and harness their sensitive gifts in a positive way. You may not recognise that some of your physical symptoms are just signs your gifts are trying to show up. Or maybe you need to start owning your power, your sovereignty.
Maybe you need to say NO? Stop allowing others to take advantage, control, or impose their beliefs or wants onto you. Maybe you need to put yourself first? So many Empaths and HSP’s are over givers, the wounded healer, victim, martyr, or rescuer.
In-fact many sensitive and sensory challenged kids have a hyper sense of smell. So strong scents can be overwhelming and unpleasant.
Many highly sensitive persons known as HSP’s also have health conditions which have to be carefully considered when choosing the right essentials oils.
How To Choose Essential Oils For Sensitive Kids
When choosing essential oils for sensitive kids It is important the scent is not too strong or unpleasant. If in any doubt start with very smaller doses. In-fact if you know the child has an extreme heightened sense of smell, start even lower doses than the recommended below. If your child has a specific condition it is vital to check the properties and contra-indications of essential oils.
Ensure all essential oils are 100% pure and of highest grade for best results. NYR Organics is just one company. I would recommend Always dilute essential oils with an appropriate carrier oil or water, do not apply directly to skin especially on children, babies or infants. Only use recommended dose for specific age and do not use oils not suitable for infants.
How To Use Essential Oils For Sensitive Kids As A Massage Blend
Massage Blend For Babies: A dilution of 0ne drop to 15 ml carrier oil is the approx recommended dose for infants. But if your baby is sensitive I would recommend one drop to 20 ml. Once diluted in a carrier oil, essential oils can be used to gently massage your baby.
Massage Blend For Infants And Children 1- 6 Years: A dilution of 0ne to three drops to 15 ml carrier oil. But if your child is sensitive I would recommend two drops to 20 ml.
Massage Blend For 7- 12 Years: A dilution of three to five drops to 15 ml carrier oil. But if your child is sensitive I would recommend two to three drops to 20 ml.
Massage Blend For Adults: A dilution of six to ten drops to 20ml carrier oil. For highly sensitive adults four to eight drops to 20ml carrier oil
How To Use Essential Oils For Sensitive Kids In The Bath
Essentials Oils For Bath: For babies and sensitive kids it is actually much safer to dilute the essential oils into a water soluble vegetable oil such as glycerin. But can be added directly simply make sure you run the water and disperse the essential oils into the water.
For Bath Use Babies 0 – 12 months: one drop evenly dispersed in the bath water
For Bath Use Infants 1- 6 years: one to three drops per bath
For Bath Children 6 -12 years: two drops to four drops per bath
For Bath Adult Or Teenager: four drops to eight drops per bath
Safest Essential Oils For Sensitive Kids And Babies
Lavender oil is extremely calming, useful for tantrums, exhaustion, overwhelm. Although sedating for most people some people find it more a clarifier. A great one for the family first aid kit as it is extremely versatile oil that can be used on sunburn, burns, bites, Also useful for anxiety, stress and depression. For kids it can be added to bath water, or used as a relaxing massage. For toddler tantrums or bumps a drop of essential oil added to water and then applied as a cool compress
Mandarin is another extremely calming and soothing essential oil, helpful for colic, digestive issues and as a general uplifting but relaxing essential oil for sensitive kids. Popular essential oil for sensitive kids as it has a much lighter scent than most essential oils.
Chamomile is extremely soothing and one of the very few pure essentials used on young children eg, infants where it is used in very very low percentages so dilute, dilute, dilute. Relaxing, helpful for sleep, helpful for soothing sore muscles. It does have a strange aroma but the benefits powerfully out way the scent, can be blended with Lavender or Mandarin.
Popular Essential Oils For Highly Sensitive Persons And Sensitive Teenagers
Other than the essential oils above there are various pure essential oils that can support HSP’s in different ways. Essentials have various therapeutic, physiological and psychological properties. The oils below are suited more to adults and children over 12 years.
is a slightly uplifting essential oil which can be helpful for anxiety, depression, negativity, shyness, stress. Should not be used for approx 3 hours before going out into the sun. Not suitable for babies infants, children, those with sensitive skin.
a deeply meditating and grounding essential oil for HSP’s can help reduce insecurity, panic attacks, paranoia and nerves. More a masculine type of scent.. Not suitable for babies or infants.
is an extremely supportive essential oil for grief, sadness, attachment challenges, fear of unknown origin, rumination. It also has great benefits for the skin. Not suitable for babies or infants
Sandalwood is another grounding essential oil, specifically useful for those emotionally sensitive, insecurity, listless, dread and worry. It is also used as a meditation aid. Not suitable for infants, babies or children. It has a woody masculine scent.
is an extremely relaxing essential oil that can can help reduce anger challenges, impatience, nightmares,rigidity, fear of people, guilt. Especially as many HSP’s are highly empathic and suffer from unfounded guilt, fear of others and people pleasing. Not suitable for babies, infants or children.
Common signs of a highly sensitive child? Want to learn if you have a HSP Child? Lets explore some of the challenges and traits of highly sensitive children.
So what are some of the more common signs of a highly sensitive child or HSP?
Thankfully research todays recognises the most common traits of the highly sensitive child or highly sensitive person.
The Highly Sensitive Child Is Intuitive
HSP’s are usually very intuitive and are good judge of character. But because of deep compassion and empathy will often let their heart rule their head. It is important they learn to trust and be guided by their inner guidance.
Highly Sensitive Children Are Easily Overstimulated
The easily over stimulated child is often a HSP. Thus they are more easily stimulated; noise, visuals, smells, touch, movement and taste. For some the sensitivity can be so extreme, it can seriously impact their life. For example they may not be able to tolerate touch or find specific or loud sounds extremely painful, certain clothes too itchy or uncomfortable.
Highly Sensitive Kids Need Time Out
They will usually need more time out and alone. Highly sensitive kids and teenagers need more time to unplug from technology and other’s, Even if they appear sociable and talkative. They burn out and get over stimulated very easily. This can appear as high energy or fun to be around, but can often be over stimulation or over excitement.
Highly Sensitive Child Struggles With Violence In Media, Stories
Dislike Violence, Horror Movies, many highly sensitive children will find even the slightest violence quite disturbing. They can appear very cautious or fearful in doing certain activities which may appear to have a risk such as climbing.
Highly Sensitive Children Over Identify With Other People’s Stuff
They are very sensitive to not just stimuli but are often sensitive and highly empathic to other people’s emotions, needs and pains. In-fact they will often over identify or take on other’s emotional pain, especially as they find it difficult to set healthy boundaries. Which can seriously affect their physical, mental and emotional well-being. They can suffer from Irrational or irrelevant guilt due to their highly empathic nature and difficulty identifying their own emotions with others.
HSP Children Are Often People Pleasers
They tend to be people pleasers, often to their own detriment. Many HSP’s will go out of their way to be kind, please others as they don’t want to hurt others or cause conflict.
Powerful Yet Simple Life Tools You Can Teach A Highly Sensitive Child
Highly sensitive children need calm and respite from the over stimulation and information over load of modern life. As a healer, therapist and stress expert I have witnessed for many years, the huge benefits highly sensitive children achieve from learning meditation. Especially the right meditation skills and the right relaxation techniques. The right type of meditation helps one access inner calm and peace no matter what is happening around them.
Highly sensitive children who struggle and don’t learn how to harness their gifts and traits tend to really struggle in adulthood. The more we can learn how to love, accept and honour ourselves as children, the more happier and healthier we become. But if we are misunderstood, not given the support we need, not taught the skills we need we end up carrying those wounds into adulthood. That is why Inner Child Therapy has became so popular, why so many highly sensitive and highly empathic adults are attracted to Inner Child work.
Tools For The Highly Sensitive Child
Healthy Boundaries
The highly sensitive child needs to learn about personal boundaries from a young age. Be able to learn how important it is to set and maintain healthy emotional and energetic boundaries between other people, parents, siblings, friends and family.
Highly Sensitive Kids Need To Learn To Switch Off And Relax
The HSP Child should learn how to become more resilient to anxiety, stress and any form of over-stimulation. It is important for them to be able to take time out,switch off and relax.
Traditional meditation techniques can help the sensitive child or sensitive teenager find their own inner calm, own inner peace. Guided meditations for sensitive children are extremely common as they can help encourage not just deep relaxation, but help them nurture a safe space within them self.
Highly Sensitive Children Need To Ground More
HSP’s and empaths
often struggle with being grounded and centred. So it is important that they do daily activities that will help them become more earthed and grounded. They can easily do that by spending time in nature, around plants, flowers, trees and animals. The use of essential oils and flower essences can also be very helpful.
Improve A Highly Sensitive Child’s Self Worth And Self Esteem
Parents of a highly sensitive child should work on helping the highly sensitive child know they are enough, the need to learn and develop self-love and self-worth. Not base their worth on being the rescuer, helper or healer to other people’s needs.
Inner Child Work For The Highly Sensitive Adult
Inner Child work when approached safely and effective way can be extremely helpful. But in many ways most inner child healing is about healing trauma so there is certain approaches that must be used. It is not something that can be approached lightly.
As someone who has studied a variety of therapeutic approaches for 30 years. Not just different healing and therapy modalities but counselling, psychology, psychotherapy, archetypes and inner child work. I use a variety of safe and effective tools and approaches in my work to ensure my sessions and courses are safe and soothing.
Eileen has worked with many highly empathic and highly sensitive children and highly sensitive adults, HS kids with Autism, Aspergers and other sensory processing issues. She offers 1-2-1 inner child support for highly sensitive and empathic adults LEARN MORE
