Healing into Wholeness: A Journey from the Inside Out

Author: Gillian Maddigan

December 2024

Healing isn’t a linear path but a deep, transformative journey that starts within. It begins with recognition: something is broken, something is weakened. This acknowledgement is the catalyst for a cycle of repair—a process marked by discomfort, commitment, and healthy repetition, ultimately leading to renewal. This renewal is not about returning to what was but becoming something stronger and different.

The Start of My Journey

Five years ago, a back and knee injury forced me to confront more than just physical pain. I began to realise how deeply my unhealed issues were buried—not only in my mind but in the very fabric of my bones and muscles. These breaks in my physical flow were a mirror reflecting unresolved emotional and mental issues and wounds.

Recognising the Need for Change

The healing process demanded that I ask hard questions: Why was this happening now? What practical changes did I need to make? More importantly, it required that I ask for help—something I had long struggled with. As someone who is solution-seeking and often helps others, I found it difficult to admit my own need for support. Recognising this was a critical step toward healing.

Reframing Pain

At some stage in my childhood, as pain was seen as a weakness, I had reframed pain as discomfort —a subtle yet significant difference that hindered others' understanding of my experiences. This reluctance to fully name my pain made it difficult to communicate with doctors and physiotherapists that I had pain as they would define it. However, working with a psychosomatic view and with skilled Physios and Pilates instructors, I began to rebuild my relationship with pain, understanding its value as a catalyst for change.

With my psychosomatic training, experience and practical assistance, I started to listen to my body with a new awareness, adjusting my gait and reassessing how I bore weight physically, mentally and emotionally. Over time, I could feel my strength returning. The newfound awareness and the ability to catch myself slipping into old patterns brought a sense of empowerment. I could now respond quickly, reinforcing healthier habits.

The Ripple Effect of Physical Healing

Healing the physical also brought emotional and mental clarity. By learning new patterns and standing stronger, I created space for fresh, emotional experiences and deeper connections. But healing is rarely complete after a single effort. Twelve months later, as I neared the crest of recovery, life threw more challenges my way.

Facing New Challenges

In one month, I was hit by COVID-19, and 3 weeks later, I had an episode of Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). It's not a big thing, but my blood pressure reading got me a ride in an ambulance and a hypertension diagnosis. It felt like starting over, this time focusing not on structure but on regulating my life force—my blood. My body’s state mirrored my inner indecisiveness. Everything was in flux: work, art, family roles, and my place in the community. The healing journey was far from over.

Then, in October, I faced yet another hurdle—a fractured right fibula from a mountain biking accident. My mind accessed my teenage motorbike trial experience, but my body hadn’t performed those skills in decades. This injury became another opportunity to delve deeper into old, unresolved layers of trauma. Psychosomatically, the right leg represents stepping into the world with confidence and strength. The break near my ankle symbolises an early childhood wound, one tied to identity and creative expression.

The Gift of Renewal

With each injury, I leaned into the lessons. I worked consciously to strengthen not just my body but also my confidence and self-expression. This journey was supported by my colleague and friend Bianca Moeschinger, and together, we stepped on to another level with the power of Psychosomatics and Emotional Anatomy Training.

Breaking the Cycle

Ignoring what’s broken doesn’t lead to healing—it buries the trauma, allowing it to fester and resurface in more damaging ways in other places of weakness in the body, mind and the emotional anatomy. Healing, on the other hand, requires facing the broken parts, working through them, and trusting in the renewal process, as it takes time, continuous commitment and awareness.

For many, the cycle of trauma can feel inescapable. Without tools, support, or a willingness to seek help, it’s easy to remain trapped. But healing is possible—each experience of being broken presents an opportunity for profound change.

A Call to Action

If you want something different, seek something new. Choose wellness, even in small, fleeting moments. Healing is not a solitary path; others have walked it before and stand ready to guide and support you. Remember, being broken is not the end—it’s an opportunity for transformation.

You are not alone.