When Trust Shatters: How to Heal and Rebuild After Deep Hurt
What happens when someone you trust deeply causes you to lose faith in humanity? How do you move forward after betrayal or disappointment from someone you care about? On a recent episode of Real Talk with Tina and Ann, we explored this question with artist and musician Mikey Silas, who shared his thoughts on the worst thing one can do to another person: destroy their trust and sense of self-worth.
The Pain of Betrayal and Lost Trust
We’ve all heard the saying, "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." But the truth is, words—and the intentions behind them—can cut deeply. When someone we trust betrays us, the pain is not just about what they did; it’s about the way it shakes our belief in people, in goodness, and sometimes even in ourselves.
Trust is fragile, and when it’s broken, it affects not just how we see others but also how we see ourselves. We start to doubt our own judgment and instincts. Was I too naïve? Could I have seen this coming? These questions create a sense of insecurity that leaves lasting scars.
Losing a Part of Ourselves
When trust is broken, we lose more than just faith in the person who hurt us. We lose a part of ourselves—our innocence, our openness, our willingness to be vulnerable. We build walls to protect ourselves from getting hurt again, but those walls also prevent us from forming deep, meaningful connections with others.
It’s natural to mourn this loss. The part of us that trusted freely may not come back the same way. The broken pieces of our trust are hard to put back together perfectly, and we carry the scars as reminders of what we lost and what we fear losing again.
Gaining Wisdom Through Pain
Yet, there’s another side to this experience. Even though we lose something, we also gain something important. Pain teaches us resilience. We learn who truly deserves our trust, and we become more discerning. While we may no longer trust as easily, we gain wisdom and a stronger understanding of ourselves. This wisdom helps us protect our hearts, while still remaining open to the possibility of healthy relationships in the future.
Rebuilding Trust and Moving Forward
Healing from betrayal is about more than just moving on—it’s about reclaiming our sense of self-worth. Losing trust doesn’t mean we are broken forever. We can heal, grow, and learn to trust again, but this time with eyes wide open. We build stronger boundaries, gain confidence, and, perhaps most importantly, we learn to trust ourselves again.
Healing is also about being heard—about sharing our story and knowing our pain matters. When we talk about our experiences, we help others feel less alone in theirs. That’s why, on Real Talk with Tina and Ann, we emphasize the importance of open, honest conversations about emotional wounds.
The Journey of Healing
The journey of healing from betrayal isn’t easy, but it’s worth it. The scars from our past show that we’ve endured pain, but they also show that we’ve survived and grown. Even if our innocence is lost, we have the chance to rebuild ourselves stronger, wiser, and more aware.
We all deserve relationships built on respect and trust. When those relationships fail us, it’s not the end—it’s an opportunity to learn, grow, and move forward.
Join Us https://www.realtalktinaann.com/the-worst-thing-you-could-do-to-someone/
Listen to Real Talk with Tina and Ann for a discussion on how betrayal and heartbreak can change us—and how, ultimately, they can help us become stronger and wiser.
