Nov 3 • Inspiration
Why we need community to heal
A colleague in the field wrote this piece and I loved it so much I wanted to share it here with you. It's in part, why I formed this group, and I would also add, alongside "chronic illness," the word "trauma":
WHY WE NEED COMMUNITY TO HEAL CHRONIC ILLNESS
"Healing from chronic illness is not just a biomedical process- it is a deeply relational one. While Western medicine often treats illness as an isolated event within the body, the truth is that our nervous systems, immune responses, and even our cellular resilience are profoundly shaped by the quality of our relationships and community.
We are biologically wired for connection. Chronic illness often brings with it layers of invisibility, invalidation, and isolation- especially for those who have been gaslit or dismissed by the medical system, family or friends.
To feel seen in our pain- truly witnessed without judgment- is one of the most powerful forms of co-regulation. When someone looks at us in the eyes and says, “I believe you,” the body begins to relax on a NEUROCHEMICAL level. This isn’t just "nice", it’s the foundation of healing. Being seen and mirrored by others who understand our lived experience helps to quiet the overactive survival circuits of the brain. It signals to the body that it’s safe to exist.
True connection is co-regulation, the subtle, rhythmic dance of nervous systems syncing together. Just as infants regulate through the presence of their caregivers, adults too regulate in relationships with each other. In chronic illness, our bodies are often locked in patterns of hypervigilance, inflammation, or collapse. Being in a trauma-informed, heart-centered community offers a pathway out of these loops. When we are surrounded by people who are grounded, present, and attuned, our own systems begin to entrain toward balance, safety, and even joy.
Finally, knowing we are not alone breaks the spell of shame. Illness often makes us feel like we are broken, that our suffering is unique, or that our body has betrayed us. Community tells a different story. It reminds us that healing is nonlinear, that others have walked this path, and that there is wisdom in the collective of our experiences. It gives us hope- not the blind hope of toxic positivity, but the real, embodied hope that emerges when someone else’s story becomes a lantern for our own. Healing is not a solo journey. We were never meant to do this alone." (Jen Donovan)
If you are ready to join the Sanctuary and have this resource in your life for the year ahead, reach out to book your Metamorphosis Discovery Session with me soon.
Comment "METAMORPHOSIS" below and I'll private message you more information.
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Why we need community to heal
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