Inner Child
- “what does inner child work mean”
- “why do I react like a child sometimes”
- “healing your inner child explained”
- “is inner child work real”
:: COMPARE ::
The short answer
Regression is a defensive slide back into earlier functioning under stress — temporary and reactive. The inner child is a way of describing needs that never stopped being present. One is a retreat; the other is a permanent resident.
Side by side
| Aspect | Inner child | Regression |
|---|---|---|
| Is | An ongoing metaphor | A defensive process |
| Timing | Always present | Under stress |
| Framing | Needs | Defence |
| Clinical status | Metaphor | Recognised mechanism |
Which one you meant
Readers who land here meaning Inner Child rather than Regression are usually searching for phrases like “what does inner child work mean”, “why do I react like a child sometimes”, “healing your inner child explained”.
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