Everyone has an inner child but not everyone associates childhood with fun and playfulness. If you experienced sexual abuse as a child, your inner child might seem small, vulnerable, and in need of protection. You may have buried the pain of your abuse through avoidance or allowed it to surface through anger. You may have done this to protect yourself — both your present self and the child you once were. Hiding pain doesn’t heal it. Instead, it often surfaces in your adult life, showing up as issues in personal relationships or difficulty meeting your own needs. Working to heal your inner child can help you address some of these issues. Healing your inner child can take time, patience and a willingness to go back to the traumatic event. In this episode, we provide five tips that can help you connect with your inner child to start your healing journey! Disclaimer: Please keep in mind what we say in this podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute or take the place of advice from your doctor or therapist. If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.