Dance Of Healing: Finding Hope in the Steps Forward and Steps Back

Some days feel like two steps forward, one step back. Other times, I’m spinning in circles, unsure of my direction. Then there are moments when I’m just standing still, frozen by fear, doubt, and exhaustion. Healing feels like more of a dance than a straight line. Healing is not about perfection; it’s about progress.

According to complextrauma.org, complex trauma is an integrative term that encompasses both the exposure to multiple, chronic or recurrent traumatic experiences and the wide-ranging and long-term impact of these experiences. It emphasizes difficulties arising from a person’s efforts to endure and adapt in the face of adversity.

When someone experiences repeated trauma such as abuse, neglect, or exploitation, it not only wounds the heart, but it also changes the brain. The brain’s alarm system, the amygdala, can become overactive, keeping survivors in constant “fight, flight, or freeze” mode, where even safe situations feel dangerous. The prefrontal cortex, the thinking part of the brain that helps with focus, decision-making, and emotional regulation, slows down under chronic stress, making it harder to stay calm or think clearly. Meanwhile, the hippocampus, which organizes memory and helps distinguish past from present, can shrink, leading to flashbacks or gaps in memory. Yet, there is scientific proof that new neuropathways in the brain can be created with therapies, such as EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing). Which means that there is incredible hope. Through safety, counseling, and supportive relationships, the brain can essentially rewire itself. Calm can replace chaos, connection can replace fear, and healing can begin again.

While exiting trafficking is the first step to healing, it is not the fix all. Healing from complex trauma is a journey with progress, pauses, and sometimes painful steps backward. For survivors of long-term trauma, setbacks and relapses don’t mean failure; they’re part of how the brain and body learn safety again. Healing asks survivors to do something incredibly brave and vulnerable; it asks them to trust again, to feel again, and to hope again. This process can awaken buried pain, triggers, or habits that once helped them survive. Each struggle offers an opportunity for new understanding and growth. Over time, with support, counseling, and grace, those moments of regression become shorter, and recovery becomes stronger. Rather than setbacks and relapses being failures, they’re proof that healing is happening. The path to restoration is made up of courage, resilience, and the willingness to begin again, one step in front of the other.

I graduated from Take Heart Residential, Hope Center Indy’s long-term restoration program for survivors of sex trafficking and exploitation. My journey included both victories and challenges. If I’ve learned anything, it’s to celebrate the little things, because they lead to the big things; it’s a process. I know firsthand what it feels like to face setbacks on the path to healing. Triggers, flashbacks, and night terrors can strike unexpectedly, leaving you feeling vulnerable, scared, and sometimes defeated. I’ve been there, and I’ve learned that these moments, as overwhelming as they feel, are not signs of weakness or failure. They are part of the natural rhythm of recovery, reminders that healing is not a straight line but a journey of courage, resilience, and growth. Each challenge is an opportunity to discover strength, lean on support, and keep moving forward, even when progress feels slow. Healing happens in small steps, sometimes barely visible, but every step matters. Even amid fear and uncertainty, hope endures, bringing the possibility of renewal and wholeness.

If you’re reading this and you’re a survivor, walking through addiction, or wrestling with your mental health, you are not alone. There is hope in Jesus. Sometimes the hardest battles are the ones no one else sees. There are moments when your heart feels heavy, your thoughts are loud, and your faith feels small, Jesus is near. He does not look away from our pain; He steps into it with compassion.

Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” When everything feels uncertain, this truth remains, you are seen, you are loved, and your story is not over. Jesus doesn’t wait for us to be “fixed” to offer His presence. He meets us right where we are with open arms, grace that restores, and peace that begins to heal. It is my prayer that you take one small step toward Him. Whisper a prayer. Breathe His name. Let His love remind you that healing is possible and hope is alive.

Safe housing, therapy, and caring mentors from the community all play a crucial role in restoration. But here’s something beautiful: you can be part of that healing. No matter your calling, skills, or background, you have something to offer that can bring hope and healing to others.

You can make a difference through the Hope Center or by serving with one of the many incredible organizations in our community and across the nation. Take that first step today!

Take Action