The Fear of Being Seen and Heard has been beating me up lately. This fear completely stops me from living out my destiny through everyday tasks. For example… I am afraid to have my picture taken, I’m afraid to make educational videos for my business, and I’m afraid to write these blog posts.

 

Can anyone relate?

 

It’s been difficult to get back to writing. It’s been difficult to know what to write. I have so much to say, but I’ve been afraid that you will hear me… and most likely misunderstand, invalidate my reality, or walk away.

 

Yet deep in my heart, I know that writing is one of the things I’m here to do. I know that videos are the best way I can connect with my audience. And as my therapist reminded me yesterday, taking pictures (and being in them) is simply important for preserving memories for my family.

 

So, since this fear is blocking me from my soul-aligned work and priorities, it’s time to take a closer look and deal with it head-on.

 

I went through a divorce, and the memories and programming from that season have been the biggest blocker. Through the divorce process, I experienced repetitive situations where it was NOT safe to be seen or heard.

 

When I refer to my “divorce process,” I want to be clear that I’m referring to a period of 5+ years. So many people assume that the “divorce” – as in, the acute fact that the marriage is officially and legally over – was the hard, sad, damaging part. For me, that single fact is not anywhere close to the hard part. At the point of finalization, it was mostly a lot of paperwork and practical decisions and tasks. Of course there were still some sad, hard, bittersweet moments during the legal part. But emotionally, in the whole scheme of things, that part was just a drop in the bucket. The divorce, to me, represents that whole period of time where the marriage was obviously being broken down, day after day… and the aftermath.

 

The hard, sad, most damaging parts trail back several years before we made it official. Most damaging were those months and years of destruction leading up to the divorce. Also, the loss of health and the loss of dreams. Those years were confusing and dark.

 

 

And equally damaging were the aftermath-ripples of the destructive responses, judgments, misapplied verses, misguided advice, and silence. I remember reeling from the gut-wrenching responses of sweet friends who just weren’t able to fully understand or accept my reality, and who ended up adding insult to injury during the destructive stages. And of course grieving the loss of friendships, family, and community. Resetting my mind from all of the lies and destructive beliefs coming from every direction, including my own battered heart. And then, learning to live and trust in healthy relationships again… deconstructing my beliefs… and rising each morning weary, but determined, to battle the inevitable onslaught of C-PTSD triggers.

 

Much of this aftermath was caused by “societal gaslighting” (It’s worth googling), and unfortunately it happened during the time when I most needed to be seen and heard.

 

These were the hard, most damaging parts… the parts of the process where it became crystal clear that it was not safe to be seen or heard. And they came before and after the single-event “divorce” as many might think of it. I know now that I was reaching out for help in places that may have looked safe and helpful, but were actually more dangerous and harmful. It was in those gray triangle areas (see above) where I learned to duck and cover, because being seen and heard would only make my hurtful situation hurt more.

 

For this highly sensitive person, divorce (as in, all of the years of the entire process) was just a LOT to endure. And the Fear of Being Seen and Heard – even in safe, healthy relationships – continued to rear its ugly head.

 

But the growth that has come out of this season has already been bigger than I ever could’ve anticipated, so I know I will overcome this fear too. I am different, and I see things differently than I did before this experience. I am dealing with my own deep-rooted issues that essentially kept me trapped in such a relationship and way of life. And I’m facing my fears in the context of safe, sane relationships.

 

I would not wish a destructive relationship on anyone, or any of the revictimization and losses, or C-PTSD. But through this process, I gained new perspective and growth I may not have had any other way… You see, I have learned to face this giant fear of being seen in other situations –– and won! But to keep that muscle strong, I have to work it.

 

So there I was again, facing “Fear of Being Seen and Heard” in a new context… When I finally got brave enough to speak my reality about what was happening in the marriage, it was treated as something other than what it really was. I felt trapped in an extremely destructive situation. This made me unnecessarily question myself in all sorts of ways, and then seriously question whether it’s ever really safe to put myself out there.

 

Somehow that insecurity brought on the rapid-fire lies…

 

“You sound funny.”

 

“Other people already say it better.”

 

“Nobody wants to hear what you have to say.”

 

“People will think you’re weird.”

 

“You need to lose weight first.”

 

“You’re ugly.”

 

“It’s not important enough to risk being seen.”

 

My therapist has been going through a C-PTSD book with me that helped me see that the Fear of Being Seen and Heard is a manifestation of shame. Most of us deal with this kind of shame to some extent. And we hide.

 

There are times when you just need something to hide behind.

 

But now that I am in an emotionally and psychologically safe place, my brain just needs help believing that I don’t need to hide.

 

With the help of my AFT coach and essential oils doing the hard work, I was recently able to allow truth to intervene, and my emotional brain could reprogram this NEW reality I am living in. I was reminded that it’s okay to be me – no matter who is responding, or how. My new truth is: “Because it is okay to be me, I am comfortable being seen and heard.”

 

It’s a process, but since this AFT session I have felt more confident and carefree about being seen and heard in certain situations. I am free to take steps toward being seen and heard in safe relationships. And here I am, putting myself out there in a blog post for the first time in six months!

 

So, healing comes in many layers. This layer is about becoming comfortable in my own skin again and believing in my own value. It’s a healthy thing to start writing again, with less inhibition, and I’m looking forward to being seen and heard around here more often.

 

Do you ever feel like you’re hiding the deepest, truest parts of you – in fear of someone not being able to handle it? Or in fear of being misunderstood, misinterpreted, criticized, or shamed? Know that I’m right there with you… I know how that feels. But those deep parts of us that we try to hide… those are often the ones the world needs most!

 

I want to encourage anyone out there who might relate to this “hiding,” because for a time, maybe it was necessary to your emotional safety to stay hidden… but maybe it’s time now to come out of hiding…

 

Next time you have to get your picture taken, make a video, write a blog post, speak up about what you know or how you feel… before you run the other direction… remember that many in this world want to hear what you have to say. You are worth being seen and heard.