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The Crucial Difference Between Coping and Healing

Season 4 Episode 413
Aired on 10/07/2017 | CC tv-pg

For the five men working with Iyanla to heal from childhood sexual abuse, moving through life as an adult has been a challenge. These survivors have carried their childhood pain with them through every facet of life since their trauma, suffering in silence as they did their best to make do. But, as Iyanla tells the group, it's time to stop coping and time to start healing.

The difference between coping and healing, Iyanla continues, is an important distinction, and she offers to demonstrate it for Dennis, one of the survivors, who is expressing some confusion. Iyanla places a heavy brick in his hand and tapes it there. The brick represents the shame, guilt and fear that Dennis has been holding on to, and he cannot remove it.

"Now, you have two hands, but, really, only one is free," Iyanla says. "You learn how to live your life with one free hand."

If you are struggling or need help, visit RAINN's National Sexual Assault Online Hotline or the National Sexual Violence Resource Center's website.

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