Published on May 25, 2026 · Reading time 5 minutes · Written by Marta Coelho
It's three in the morning. You wake with a suffocating sensation in your chest. A simple comment from a friend comes back to you, and suddenly you feel completely shattered. You think: "Why am I reacting like this? It was nothing."
But it wasn't "nothing." It was an emotional wound waking up.
Emotional wounds don't heal in a straight line. They can remain dormant for months, even years, until a specific situation awakens them. And when they do wake up, we often don't understand what's happening.
You're at a work meeting in Vaud. Your manager questions a decision you made. And suddenly: you feel paralyzed, humiliated, furious. Your colleagues don't understand why you're reacting so strongly.
What's really happening: This situation activated an older wound. Maybe a childhood experience where your voice wasn't heard. Or a moment when you felt you weren't good enough.
You regularly end relationships right when they become intimate. Or you isolate before someone else can reject you. You think that's "just how you are," but in truth, an old rejection wound is making you act protectively.
What's really happening: Every time a new relationship deepens, you sense the approach of rejection and act to prevent it.
You've accomplished something. You should feel proud. Instead, a wave of shame overwhelms you. You wonder what's wrong with you.
What's really happening: The shame wound speaks. It tells you: "You don't deserve this success. You're actually an imposter."
You burst into tears because your partner forgot a detail. You're furious with your kids for something minor. Then you're ashamed of your reaction.
What's really happening: A deep wound resonates through this situation. It's like hitting a cracked tooth—the pain is very real, even if the blow was gentle.
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You feel constantly contracted. Your jaw is clenched. Your shoulders are up. You might even have chronic pain that doesn't match any medical diagnosis.
What's really happening: Your body is storing the wound. It carries it as protection, always alert to prevent it from waking again.
Working with clients in Rolle, I've noticed something: a wound often wakes up when you're ready to heal it.
This sounds strange, but think about it: a buried wound can't heal. It must first be felt. It must be brought to the surface.
Sometimes a wound wakes up because:
Don't minimize your reaction. Don't say "I'm too sensitive" or "I should get over it." Instead, say: "This is a wound. And it's okay for me to feel it."
You don't need to fix it immediately. It doesn't need to make logical sense. Give yourself permission to cry, to tremble, to feel angry. Your body knows what it needs to do.
Once you've felt the wound, ask it gently: "What are you trying to show me? What do I need to understand?"
An emotional wound isn't something you need to heal alone. A therapist, coach, or trusted friend can help you integrate this experience.
In French-speaking Switzerland, we tend to think we should be self-sufficient. But seeking support isn't weakness—it's wisdom.
It's important to understand that feeling a wound resurfacing isn't a relapse. It's not a sign that you failed or that you're not healing.
It's actually a sign that your healing is progressing. Wounds wake up in layers. You heal one layer, then another emerges. This is normal. This is the process.
Emotional wounds don't disappear completely. But with time and proper support, they lose their power over you. They become scars—marks of what you've survived and transcended.
At MC-TERRA, I accompany people in Rolle and throughout French-speaking Switzerland to welcome and deeply heal their emotional wounds. Whether through emotional coaching, family constellations, or other therapeutic tools, we work together to transform pain into wisdom.
If you feel a wound resurfacing and struggling to understand it, you're not alone. Schedule a session with me to explore what's really happening and find your path toward healing.
