Healing the inner child sparks discourse among netizens
by Naobi Espiritu, APEX Feature
Netizens in a heated discussion over ‘healing the inner child’
The video of Craig Dallarte who goes by Kreyg (@kregvd_) on X (formerly Twitter), an FEU graduate, buying toys at a mall in Manila to heal his ‘inner child’ causes debate amidst users in the social media platform including Pharmacist-Content creator Arshie Larga
In the posted video on October 31, Craig is seen documenting himself purchasing Harry Potter-related toys at a toy store, eating food, and strolling around the mall with the caption; “Employed era = healing my inner child era”, adding, “The kid inside me must be so happy”
A quote post in the video from an account asking a question of why whenever it is regarding ‘healing the inner child’ connected to consumerism caught the attention of many
“Bakit kaya kapag sinabing “healing my inner child”, kailangan konektado sa konsumerismo”, the user stated which started the discourse
Netizens on X, including the Pharmacist-Content creator Arshie Larga, expressed their reactions and opinions regarding the matter along with support towards Dallarte on the platform
Arshie jokingly answered a post from Vico Blanco (@vicotinamide), a popular user in the app, who mentioned the pharmacist asking what is the ‘best medicine’ for healing the ‘inner child’ by saying it is money with his mantra
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“PERA ang gamot. Let me explain!. Mechanism of action: Kapag gumagastos tayo for a purpose — achieving a long-term goal (healing your inner child), na-activate ang mesolimbic dopamine pathway. Nagre-release ng dopamine ating katawan kaya nakakaramdam tayo ng sense of fulfillment”, Larga said
“Hahahaha char char ko lang yan syempre. Iba’t-iba ang ating mga pinagdaanan nung mga bata pa tayo. Kaya may kanya-kanya tayong ways kung paano natin mahe-heal ang ating inner child. Kung sa pagbili ng laruan mo ito magagawa. Go lang. Maging masaya na lang tayo para sa ibang tao”, he explained
The majority of the users who shared their sentiments towards the topic are in Craig’s side, telling their agreement that there is nothing wrong with spending one’s own money on their hobby or likes
“Cheers to all the kids who try!!!. Happy to see you winning, and buying the things you want with your hard-earned money! here’s to more abundance, love, and success! People often have a lot to say; take only what serves you and kebs to the world”, a netizen commented
Dallarte himself later addressed the situation, thanking supporters for their kind words and reiterating that everyone has the right to heal their inner child in their own way. His video has garnered over 59,000 likes, 5,500 quotes, and 4,500 reposts, furthering the discussion on the topic.
There is an opposing viewpoint when it comes to the thought of ‘healing the inner child’ and that is, it being equated to consumerism, but that underlies the reality wherein, in order to ‘heal’ the ‘inner child’ there are instances where people become materialistic
‘Healing the inner child’ is not a form of consumerism but moreover it is that, adults tend to buy the things they want to attain that certain sense of happiness for themselves and that each individual have their own ways of ‘healing the inner child’
This online exchange highlights the different ways people approach “healing the inner child.” Some view it as a coping mechanism, while others see it as an indulgence in consumerism. However, for many, the practice is more about satisfying the desires they couldn’t fulfill as children, now that they have the means to do so as adults.
The debate raises an important point: individuals should not be judged for how they spend their money or how they cope with past struggles. Many people who were deprived of certain things as children can only afford them later in life. Ultimately, “healing the inner child” is a deeply personal journey, and no one else is entitled to decide how one should go about it.
Adulting or life in general can be rough, there are unspoken experiences from childhood that linger within anyone, looking through various perspectives creates change in perceiving such instances and it is that having the capability of understanding can make a difference
