Why ‘Healing’ Isn’t Linear—And That’s Okay

The way pop culture talks about healing is wildly misleading. We’re fed this idea that recovery is a neat, upward trajectory—like a stock photo of a person meditating on a mountaintop, blissfully “over it.” Meanwhile, in reality? Healing looks more like a drunk snail trying to navigate a maze.

One day you’re crushing therapy homework and eating kale; the next, you’re sobbing into a pint of ice cream because a grocery store played that song. And guess what? That’s normal.

Here’s why healing isn’t—and can’t be—linear, and why beating yourself up over “setbacks” is like yelling at a broken bone for not healing fast enough.

The Myth of the ‘Perfect’ Healing Journey (And Who Started This Lie?)

Somewhere along the way, we got sold this fantasy that healing means:

• Day 1: Rock bottom.
• Day 30: Epiphany!
• Day 60: Fully healed, frolicking through fields of self-love.

Spoiler: Nope. Real healing is messy, non-negotiable, and full of plot twists.

You’ll have weeks where you feel unstoppable. Then, out of nowhere, a random Tuesday will knock you sideways.

Triggers don’t care about your progress. That thing you thought you moved past? Surprise! It’s baaack.

Healing isn’t a finish line—it’s a spiral. You’ll revisit the same wounds, but each time, you’ll understand them a little more.

The truth? Setbacks aren’t failures. They’re proof you’re doing the work.

Why ‘Relapses’ Are Actually Data Points (Not Disasters)

Ever had a “Wait, I thought I was past this?” meltdown? Welcome to the club. Here’s the thing: backsliding is part of the process.

Think of it like learning a language:

• Some days, you’re fluent in self-compassion.
• Other days, you forget how to say “boundary” and end up people-pleasing like it’s your job.

That doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you’re human.

What helps:

• Track your patterns. Notice what triggers your “relapses”—stress? Certain people? Lack of sleep?
• Talk to past-you like a kind friend. “Hey, we’re trying our best. Let’s reset.”
• Remember: one bad day ≠ starting over. Healing isn’t an all-or-nothing game.

The Unexpected Gifts of ‘Non-Linear’ Healing

Yes, the ups and downs are exhausting. But there’s magic in the mess:

• You develop resilience you didn’t know you had. Every time you bounce back, you trust yourself a little more.
• You learn self-forgiveness. Messing up becomes less terrifying when you know you can recover.
• You stop fearing emotions. Sadness, anger, grief—they’re not enemies. They’re messengers.

Real talk: The people who pretend healing is a straight line are usually the ones still hiding from their own shadows.

How to Keep Going When Healing Feels Like a Joke

On days when progress feels invisible:

• Look backward. Compare yourself to last year, not yesterday.
• Celebrate micro-wins. Got out of bed? Texted a friend? Ate something green? Gold star.
• Embrace the “and.” You can be struggling and growing. Exhausted and resilient.

Just One Of Those Things

If your healing journey had a GPS, it would say “Recalculating…” every five minutes. And that’s okay.

Tell us: What’s your most “Okay, guess we’re revisiting this again” moment? Share your messy healing stories below—no judgment, just solidarity. And if this felt like permission to breathe, hit like and subscribe for more “Healing isn’t pretty, but it’s real” content.

P.S. If you’ve ever cried in a Target parking lot and still called it growth, you’re doing it right. 🛒💔