Beyond the Obvious: Exploring Hidden Emotional Splinters

There are different layers of trauma and emotions. There’s the obvious, loud trauma that you cannot ignore. It screams so loudly, and the events live inside you, waiting to be felt. Then there’s the type that hides within—maybe forgotten or simply overlooked, downplayed. It’s harder to move through hidden trauma because you may not even realize it’s there, or perhaps you don’t feel it’s significant enough to require special attention.

It’s like a splinter: so small that you may not notice it right away. But if you pick at it, it becomes painful. I’ve always wondered how such a small thing can be so painful.

Recently, I’ve been diving into that level of healing—the things I felt weren’t worth the attention or, in some cases, thought I had addressed and worked through.

I’ve had a few topics, once acknowledged, that just smacked me in the face, punched me in the gut, and brought forth tears so unexpectedly. It made me realize how important it is to slowly dive into all parts of yourself.

The deep wounds may take longer to heal, but the splinters are hard to find. Both are crucial to face. Embrace whatever emotions they bring, without judgment. Judgment does not serve you.

Only when we embrace and allow ourselves to feel what we feel can we start to let it go. Even the smallest splinter may take time. Processing emotions is a process, and some topics may always be there. Like grief, there may not be an end—just a constant shift in how much energy it requires.