Any traumatized adopted child has internalized a number of negative messages. For example, an abusive or neglectful birth parent might have told the child that she wishes that the child had never been born. While this hurtful message might have been said only once, the traumatized adopted child has replayed this message in his own head about a thousand times. This one message might have spawned numerous other negative internal messages, such as, “I am worthless.”

Because the traumatized adopted child has “heard” these messages in his own head repeatedly, he has grown to believe them. Using mantras can be a powerful way to fight back.

A mantra is a positive message that a person chooses to say to himself repeatedly. In the same way that repeating a negative message can break down a traumatized adopted child’s spirit, repeating positive messages can build that spirit back up.