I grew up in a dysfunctional family. There was emotional and sexual abuse. The trauma from that experience has had lasting effects on my mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health. In my teens and early 20's I used alcohol/drugs, food, and sex to try to deal with the trauma. It didn't work. Finally, in my late 20's, I started therapy. My emerging memories and the pain of my childhood was a deep injury that I have been healing since. During my healing journey, I have used therapy, support groups, 12 steps and supportive people to teach me how to process the hurt, confusion, devastation and self hatred. My experience is that recovery from trauma is done in layers-like an onion. I would do the work to heal and get stronger then when I was ready another layer would peel back and the process of identifying, accepting, processing, and healing would begin. Personally, I believe that personal growth is life long and I will be guided to issues and injuries I need to deal with.