fawning response

  • Avoiding Conflict Is Not Keeping the Peace

    Avoiding Conflict Is Not Keeping the Peace

    Every time you avoid conflict to “keep the peace,” you’re not just staying quiet—you’re sending your nervous system the message that self-advocacy is dangerous. Over time, this leads to heightened anxiety around confrontation and a belief that your voice is unsafe. But this pattern can be unlearned. In this post, we explore how avoiding…

  • Some of Your Most Polite Behaviors Are Survival Mechanisms

    Some of Your Most Polite Behaviors Are Survival Mechanisms

    People often assume being polite, agreeable, and conflict-avoidant is a personality trait. But for many, these behaviors aren’t kindness—they’re survival tactics. If you grew up in an environment where disagreeing led to consequences, your brain learned to fawn—to make yourself small, quiet, and easy to be around to avoid harm. But you don’t have…