Fawn is a nervous system survival strategy, not a personality flaw. It helps you keep connection and avoid threat by overriding your needs, smiling through discomfort, and saying yes when you want to say no. In this episode of Trauma Rewired, Elisabeth Kristof and Jennifer Wallace unpack how fawn forms around attachment and safety, why it shows up in daily life and in sex, and how to gently rebuild self trust.

You will learn to notice gut and throat signals that precede a reflexive yes, set small boundaries without collapse, and grow capacity to feel both the difficult and the good, so connection can be real, not a performance.

Topics Discussed in This Episode:

The freeze spectrum, acute freeze, tonic immobility, flop
Functional freeze vs burnout
Interoception and emotional numbness
Relationship patterns, shutdown, flat affect, rupture and repair
Language masking, shame loops, lost voice
High performers, people pleasing, perfectionism, hidden freeze
Whole system view, not only the vagus nerve
Minimum effective dose, breath, voice, tiny mobilizations
Resourcing and capacity building before big emotional work
From dissociation to embodiment and agency

🔗 Resources:

🎯 Start Here

Ready to break free from burnout and self-sabotage? Join The Capacity Gap Workshop, register FREE at https://rewirecapacity.com

FREE 2-week nervous system training: https://www.rewiretrial.com

Learn more about Neurosomatic Intelligence Coaching: https://www.neurosomaticintelligence.com

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Trauma Rewired podcast is intended to educate and inform but does not constitute medical, psychological or other professional advice or services. Always consult a qualified medical professional about your specific circumstances before making any decisions based on what you hear. We share our experiences, explore trauma, physical reactions, mental health and disease. If you become distressed by our content, please stop listening and seek professional support when needed. Do not continue to listen if the conversations are having a negative impact on your health and well-being. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, or in mental health crisis and you are in the United States you can 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
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This episode was produced by ClipGrowth - Podcast Video Editing, SEO & YouTube Strategy

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When Attachment Overrides Authenticity: The Fawn Trauma Response

Trauma Rewired