Healed vs. Free: How Prayer, Healing, and Freedom Transform Trauma

10/4/2025

What if the thing holding you back isn’t just pain but undealt-with trauma? In my recent conversation with author Elena Huggins, she opened up about the difference between simply being healed and living fully free. And her story is a reminder that no matter what you’ve been through, freedom is possible—through Christ, prayer, and practical daily choices.

Meet Elena Huggins

Elena Huggins is a speaker, mentor, and author of Untwist Me: Uncomplicated Life Hacks for Mental and Emotional Liberation. Her story is one of resilience, faith, and transformation. Growing up with a mix of trauma and challenges, Elena wrestled with anxiety, fear, and the weight of her past. But through her relationship with Jesus, intentional prayer, and practical tools she now shares openly, she discovered the difference between simply “managing” emotions and living in true freedom.

Today, Elena’s mission is to help others find emotional clarity and spiritual breakthrough. Whether through her book, her teaching, or her testimony, she offers hope to anyone who feels stuck in cycles of trauma, anxiety, or self-doubt. With a down-to-earth style and a heart for people, Elena reminds us that healing is possible — and that freedom is found in Jesus.

Untwist Me: Uncomplicated Life-Hacks for Mental & Emotional Liberation

In Untwist Me. Elena shares not just her personal journey of moving from trauma to freedom, but also the practical life hacks and spiritual tools that helped her along the way.

This isn’t a book about quick fixes. Instead, Elena offers:

Step-by-step guidance for breaking free from cycles of trauma.
Prayer strategies that invite God’s supernatural power into your healing.
Simple mindset shifts that move you from just managing to truly living free.
Daily practices rooted in both faith and brain science to help you renew your mind.

Her honesty and practical wisdom make this book feel like sitting down with a friend who’s been there and found the way out. If you’ve been carrying the weight of trauma, anxiety, or the pressure to “just hold it all together,” this book is for you.

Trauma Doesn’t Disappear—But It Can Be Transformed

Elena shared something profound: "Trauma never really goes away. It morphs into behaviors, choices, even leadership patterns if it’s left unhealed. But at the base of it all—it’s trauma.”

Undealt-with trauma
We’ve all seen it. A preacher falls. A parent lashes out. A leader crumbles. Underneath the headlines and heartache? Trauma.

Here’s the hope: trauma doesn’t have to define you. Psalm 34:18 promises: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” The Lord will walk with you on this path to ultimate healing and freedom. You don't go it alone!

Prayer: The Key to Freedom

One of the most powerful takeaways from Elena’s book is this: lasting freedom comes through prayer.

“When you feel anxious, get in your closet and pray,” she says. “And if it doesn’t go away, keep praying. Don’t dismiss the supernatural power of God." Prayer calms the brain, too. Research shows prayer and meditation reduce activity in the amygdala (the fear center) and increase activity in the prefrontal cortex—the area linked to peace, resilience, and hope.

Science confirms what Philippians 4:6-7 already teaches: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God… will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

From Managing to Freedom

Elena puts it this way: “When I was managing, I felt like I could explode at any moment. But when I was free, I didn’t even worry about control anymore. I wasn’t holding it together—God was.” Freedom doesn’t mean your trauma never happened. It means you don’t have to live chained to it anymore. Freedom literally rewires your brain for calm.

Romans 12:2 reminds us of this truth: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Science catches up with what Scripture already told us—renewal happens when we let God do the heavy lifting.

Life Hacks and Practical Steps

Elena’s book is packed with tools to help you move forward:

Simplify → Don’t overcomplicate your healing. Strip issues down to the root and deal with one thing at a time.
Pray First → Before turning to people or strategies, meet with God.
Release Quickly → Don’t hold on to anger, disappointment, or shame. Run to God and let it go.
Rewire Your Thinking → Use Scripture to renew your mind daily (Romans 12:2).
Choose Freedom Daily → Healing is a process, but freedom is a posture you can walk in every day.

Final Encouragement

Your trauma doesn’t disqualify you—it’s the very place God can show up the strongest. You don’t have to just manage anymore. Through prayer, practical steps, and God’s supernatural power, you can experience healing and lasting freedom.

Contact Elena

https://www.elenahuggins.com/
*Buy her book here: Untwist Me