My journey

I started working with IFS in October 2025, and my system includes CEO, Buzz Kill, Annoyed Protector, Barbie, Pinky, Class Clown, Nervous Nelly, Beaver, and several exiles. Since the beginning, I’ve been focusing on protector alignment and building trust in Self, especially with CEO, who still sometimes labels me as “child.” Incorporating somatic work in November has been pivotal, helping parts like Beaver and Buzz Kill regulate tension and allowing exiles, particularly shame and fear, to begin surfacing safely. I’m noticing early unburdening experiences and shifts in my parts’ roles — for example, protectors are softening, and parts are beginning to collaborate rather than resist. I’d love to connect with others who have navigated infant exiles or deeply buried shame, especially how protector parts responded and how I paced the work safely. Is it normal to fear the healing part of it?