At birth, each child receives a tiny backpack. Into the backpack go all life's unhealed hurts, real or imagined slights, untreated traumas, grief and loss. As the child grows, the backpack stretches to accommodate the added burdens collected throughout their life.

Each apology, hug or the child's ability to share their pain relieve their secret burden so the weight is removed from their backpack.

Untreated trauma is held in the backpack by secrets. The weight of unhealed trauma eventually bends the back and curves their spine. Their head is forced down so the eyes are always pointed to the ground. This is often accompanied by acute shame for reasons the "chi-ult" can't begin to explain.

The painful weight of untreated trauma drives the child to find substances or develop behaviors that eases the pain they carry. It may lead a teen, unable to cope and without the maturity to know this state is temporary, to seek relief from their pain. They may seek chemicals or behaviors to ease their burden try suicide. Untreated early childhood trauma contributes significantly to teen suicide.

Keeping secrets of past trauma creates a “chi-ult.” The child remains frozen at the emotional age when the trauma took place even though their physical body grows into adulthood.

Traumatized adults need to ask, "What would happen if I told my secret?"

Opening the backpack and removing each trauma, one-by-one, is a mental scrub because the physical injury has long ago healed. The scars may still be tender but facing your fears is empowering.

Don't keep secrets. Tell someone. Set your "chi-ult" free!