E143: Why CPTSD Makes Decision-Making So Hard (And How to Trust Yourself Again)

Do you research every decision into the ground, ask five people for their opinionbefore trusting your own, or feel real physical anxiety when there’s no clear right answer? Inthis episode we’re naming a pattern a lot of us with complex trauma histories carry, and it has almost nothing to do with being “an overthinker” by nature.We trace decision paralysis back to its actual root, childhood conditioning thattaught the nervous system mistakes were dangerous, not just inconvenient. This episodeincludes personal reflection on dropping two of my three kids off at college for the first time,and the flood of second-guessing that showed up in me that had nothing to do with themdirectly.By the end of this episode you’ll have a new reframe, “I trust myself to learn as I go,”and a concrete tool, the 70% rule, for acting without waiting for certainty that was nevercoming.If today’s episode resonated, please take a moment to rate and review wherever you listen. It genuinely helps more people find this content. All the ways toreach me are in the show notes. I would love to hear from you.Connect with Cindy:Ready for deeper support? Take the free people-pleasing quiz, explore therapy or book a consultation here: cindypayne.comInstagram: @cindypaynerootedemail: [email protected] podcast supports women healing trauma, attachment wounds, codependency, anxiety, perfectionism, people pleasing, overthinking, and rebuilding self-worth, self-trust, boundaries, and confidence through trauma-informed guidance.Through honest, grounded conversations, it explores the real human experience of growth and leadership, the tension between purpose and rest, boundaries and connection, and how choosing awareness and compassion creates a more aligned and authentic life.