by Andrew John Tucker, LCSW
www.addictiontherapynyc.com
When you consider “injury” instead of “brokenness,” a few powerful shifts happen:
- You move from shame (“I’m defective”) to possibility (“I’m wounded, I can heal”).
- You acknowledge time and process rather than expecting instant change.
- You create space for both the struggle and the hope.
Research into trauma’s healing mechanisms supports this. A recent special issue of the journal Life named “Healing after Trauma-New Knowledge and Procedures” argues that trauma impacts physical, cognitive and psychological systems, and healing requires repair…..not simply a return to how things were. MDPI In other words: you’re not just “getting back” to yourself. You’re moving forward into a transformed self.
And for many of my clients in addiction recovery, that transformation is deeply relational: it happens in the room with a clinician, yes, but it also happens when you share your story, when you’re witnessed in your vulnerability, when you experience support that doesn’t hinge on performance but on presence.
Three practical uses for this article in addiction recovery:
- For clients: Use it as a mirror: when shame creeps in and you whisper “I’m broken,” read this. Remind yourself you’re injured, not fractured beyond repair.
- For clinicians: Incorporate it into your discourse: shift language from “brokenness” to “injury and healing,” helping clients maintain hope and reduce self‐stigmatization.
- For peer/support groups: Share it at the start of a session: invite discussion around “What injuries am I carrying?” and “What healing do I need now?” to open relational honesty and shared resilience.
In short: you’re not irreparably damaged. You’re wounded. And like any wound, you need care, time, connection—and trust. You need a network (therapist + peers + community) that says: I see you. Your injury is real. Healing is real. Change doesn’t require perfection—it requires ongoing attention, compassion, and the willingness to let yourself be wounded, then to let yourself heal.
Keep going. The work is messy, but it’s moving. You are moving.
Link to original article excerpted/grounded ideas: “Understanding the Impact of Trauma” (NCBI) by National Center for Biotechnology Information.
If you or anyone you know might benefit from a free consultation with a Clinical Addiction Specialist, fill out the confidential form on my website www.addictiontherapynyc.com, and I will reach out to you within 12 hours.
