Trapped in Survival Mode? Here's What's Actually Happening

Comments · 478

• PH

  @phabulouss1 · 2 months ago

  I’m overwhelmed from being overwhelmed.

  568

• MA

  @maxxalvarez4802 · 2 months ago

  OMG!!! 🤯💥 My nervous system learned that getting close to people—family, friends, or a partner—is dangerous and that I could get hurt. As a form of protection, I avoid people at all costs. I would rather be alone than go through that painful experience again. 🤯💥

  93

• GE

  @geoffgerber8682 · 2 months ago

  As a man we don’t speak about these things, thanks for doing it for some of us.

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• BE

  @bevkassis · 2 months ago

  I learned to dissociate from a very young age and to avoid conflict with my covert narcissistic mother. I also learned to try and people please to survive. Add to that an older sibling who has more grandiose, bullying traits. I was confused for several decades before slowly learning the language, becoming aware that there are terms for what I lived through, and ways to try and move toward having compassion for myself. The self I was then, the self I am now and all the selves in between. I’m convinced it will be a lifelong process, but the emotional load does feel lighter now than it used to. Thank you Dr. Nicole LePera for all you do.

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• LI

  @lilial3547 · 2 months ago

  Sometimes I think that  after 45 years plus of abuse I might never heal. I leaned how to cry in complete silence.

  133

• NI

  @Nickambientguitar · 2 months ago

  I was diagnosed with PTSD recently.  I did not understand why, but CPTSD explains things.  I grew up with abuse and Bullying, so there is trauma from all of that.

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• HM

  @hmh734 · 2 months ago

  1.) my nervous system learned that I needed to be quiet and not show emotions in order to blend in and be liked <br>2.) I definitely need to remind myself that this is not my fault, it doesn&apos;t matter if not everyone likes me and it&apos;s healthy to express how you feel instead of internalizing it.

  92

• CA

  @CatherineWilson-m6u · 2 months ago

  I learned to ignore my 12 basic needs.

  27

• JA

  @jamief630 · 1 month ago

  My nervous system learned to shrink me. To give too much grace to people who don&apos;t deserve it. To be 5 steps ahead to avoid conflict and appease someone&apos;s annoyance or anger. To never have a voice. To not matter. 😢 to be grateful for breadcrumbs. &nbsp;To disassociate...various levels including my brain leaving my body to get through domestic abuse for years. To stay silent. To over ride my gut. &nbsp; To respond to myself with compassion instead of criticism would be what i began doing the other year...telling myself its ok to be sad. To give myself space to feel pain and grief. To speak up and stand up for myself and feel anger not just hurt feelings (I just began to do that). &nbsp;To not have to process every angle of thing that happened..esp by people who have history of not caring for me...by putting it in a box and not having to deal with it if it will flood me. Most things can wait and will resolve on its own...and it frees my emotions and mental space up to experience more peace.<br>I&apos;ve walked away from relationships in the last few years that blameshift and gaslight. I speak truth and I trust my gut and believe people&apos;s reactions more instead of making excuses. I have boundaries. <br>I&apos;ve walked away from a volunteer position I loved because the leader let me exist only if I shrunk myself and still then it was obvious he tolerated me around...and I decided I was made for more! &nbsp;Blessings on our journeys.

  17

• EV

  @EveLovesVioletIndigo · 2 months ago (edited)

  I am in a constant state of either the most severe exhaustion body, Mind, heart and spiritually but also at the same time extremely tense, and in a constant state of cortisol pumping anxiety to the point of just being completely uncomfortable and drained and yet jaw clenched, and on edge all at once.

  64

• JI

  @JiWicked · 1 month ago

  Learned to ignore my own emotions and feelings and take care of everyone else’s.

  15

• DO

  @dora-d1i7q · 2 months ago

  This is me in survival mode

  84