Why You Can't Tell People How You Feel (And How It's Costing You)

New here? Start with our Start Here playlist — five episodes that will change how you think about motherhood. If you're a people pleaser who can't figure out why you struggle to tell people how you really feel, especially when you're angry or hurt, this episode is for you. What do you do when someone you love blames you for something that isn't your fault? JoAnn gets vulnerable about a recent conflict where, for the first time in her life, she didn't shrink. She's breaking down the fawn response, what the research actually says about staying quiet, and the exact words to use the next time silence feels safer than the truth. In this episode, you'll learn: Why the fawn response makes staying silent feel safer, even when it isn't What research on suppressed feelings actually predicts for your relationships (it's not what you'd guess) The difference between suppressing a feeling and simply choosing when to say it A 3-step script for naming what's bothering you without picking a fight Why setting a boundary and staying in a relationship are not opposites Resources mentioned in this episode: JoAnn's previous episode on what her former friendships taught her: Why Mom Friendships Feel So One-Sided The Body Keeps the Score The Happy Mom Reset, JoAnn's free class Ready to figure out where your guilt and people pleasing are running the show in your home? Join the free Happy Mom Reset class. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices