Episode 31: Fawning: When Connection Costs You Yourself

In this solo episode, Anna Gouin explores fawning—a nervous system survival response that drives people-pleasing, over-accommodation, and subtle forms of self-abandonment. She unpacks how this pattern lives in the body, shapes our relationships, and distances us from our authentic expression. Through a somatic lens, Anna invites listeners to recognize where they override their own needs in the name of connection, and how to begin unwinding these patterns. This episode is an entry point into reclaiming your voice, your boundaries, and your capacity to stay rooted in yourself—especially in moments where you've learned to disappear. Chapters 00:00 Understanding Fawning and Its Impact 09:57 The Nervous System and Fawning Dynamics 18:08 Embodiment and Self-Connection 34:46 Navigating Relationships and Self-Identity 54:12 Healing and Reconnecting with the Self