Why Survival Mode Leaves You Emotionally Disconnected

You can do everything right, hold everyone and everything together, and still wonder why you feel so far away from yourself.In this episode, I sit down with psychotherapist, licensed marriage and family therapist, certified sex therapist, and sexuality educator Todd Malloy to explore why high-achieving women can remain in survival mode long after the original danger or hardship has passed.Todd explains how unresolved childhood wounds, emotional neglect, imposter syndrome, and family-of-origin patterns can follow us into adulthood. These experiences can affect how we value ourselves, communicate with our partners, respond to conflict, and experience emotional and physical intimacy.We discuss why women often remain silent about what they need, how resentment builds when difficult conversations are repeatedly avoided, and why your partner cannot understand your experience unless you learn to communicate it clearly.Todd also introduces the “soft start,” a more thoughtful way to begin difficult conversations without immediately creating defensiveness. He shares how asking for clarity, listening to what was actually said, and stating the positive intention behind a conversation can help couples move from reacting to genuinely connecting.You’ll also hear a powerful story about a woman who confronted the wounds of her childhood, stopped abandoning herself, established boundaries, and created an entirely different life. Her transformation offers an important reminder that the life you live does not only affect you. It also teaches your children what they should accept, expect, and believe is possible.Todd leaves you with three places to begin: tell yourself the truth, understand your why, and question whether the standards you have been living by reflect your authentic values or someone else’s expectations.You may have become exceptionally good at surviving, but you are still allowed to choose honesty, connection, self-worth, and a life worth celebrating.Music by:Epidemic SoundCall to Action:What part of this conversation felt most familiar to you? Share your thoughts in the comments.Subscribe to Create The Best Me for weekly conversations that help women in midlife reconnect with themselves, navigate change, and create lives that feel meaningful and fulfilling.📕 Resources: https://createthebestme.com/ep175https://toddmalloy.com/Related Episodes:🎧 Listen to these episodes next: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1949561/episodes/18793435 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1949561/episodes/18628192 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1949561/episodes/18550342   #SurvivalMode #MidlifeWomen #EmotionalIntimacy #EmotionalDisconnection #MidlifeRelationships #RelationshipCommunication #SelfWorth #WomenOver40 #ToddMalloy #CreateTheBestMe📨 Newsletter:https://createthebestme.com/newsletter/ 👀 Connect With Me:Website: https://createthebestme.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/createthebestmeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/carmenhecox/TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@carmenhecoxYouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@createthebestmeLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/carmen-hecox 📽️ Video Request:https://forms.office.com/r/LvLV1AsBfv