So many of us grew up being told we were “too sensitive,” “too much,” or that our feelings didn’t matter. In this episode, we reclaim the truth: your emotions and feelings are valid. We explore how trauma teaches us to dismiss or bury what we feel, the consequences of silencing our inner world, and the healing that comes from honoring our emotions without apology. This is an invitation to stop minimizing your pain, start trusting your feelings, and give yourself permission to take up emotional space.

Thank you for tuning in to Unpacking Me! We appreciate each and every one of our listeners. Your presence in our community is truly valued, and we're grateful for each and every listener.

If today's episode resonated with you, consider taking a moment to subscribe, rate, and share your thoughts with a review on your preferred podcast platform. Your feedback is an essential part of our journey, and we appreciate the support!

For those seeking a Therapist in the Broward County, FL area, explore the services at www.dare2emerge.com.

The deepest betrayal isn’t always someone else walking away — it’s when we abandon ourselves. In this episode, we unpack what happens when survival, people-pleasing, or fear push us to silence our own needs, ignore our truth, and shrink to keep others comfortable. Together, we explore how self-abandonment takes root in trauma, the toll it takes on our sense of worth, and the path back to choosing ourselves again.

Thank you for tuning in to Unpacking Me! We appreciate each and every one of our listeners. Your presence in our community is truly valued, and we're grateful for each and every listener.

If today's episode resonated with you, consider taking a moment to subscribe, rate, and share your thoughts with a review on your preferred podcast platform. Your feedback is an essential part of our journey, and we appreciate the support!

For those seeking a Therapist in the Broward County, FL area, explore the services at www.dare2emerge.com.

Unpacking Me: The Parts of Trauma No One Talks About

Sometimes, denial feels easier than truth. In this episode, we unpack how trauma can make denial look “sexy” — convincing us to stay in relationships, roles, and situations that no longer serve us. We explore why the brain leans on denial as protection, how it masks pain with false comfort, and what it costs when we trade authenticity for survival. This is an honest conversation about the ways we dress up denial to avoid loss, conflict, or change — and how we can begin to choose truth over illusion.

Thank you for tuning in to Unpacking Me! We appreciate each and every one of our listeners. Your presence in our community is truly valued, and we're grateful for each and every listener.

If today's episode resonated with you, consider taking a moment to subscribe, rate, and share your thoughts with a review on your preferred podcast platform. Your feedback is an essential part of our journey, and we appreciate the support!

For those seeking a Therapist in the Broward County, FL area, explore the services at www.dare2emerge.com.

Too often, individuality gets twisted into “disrespect” when you don’t comply with someone else’s expectations. In this episode, we unpack the shame tactics used to silence authenticity, the weight of shrinking yourself to fit, and why honoring your own voice is an act of self-respect.

Thank you for tuning in to Unpacking Me! We appreciate each and every one of our listeners. Your presence in our community is truly valued, and we're grateful for each and every listener.

If today's episode resonated with you, consider taking a moment to subscribe, rate, and share your thoughts with a review on your preferred podcast platform. Your feedback is an essential part of our journey, and we appreciate the support!

For those seeking a Therapist in the Broward County, FL area, explore the services at www.dare2emerge.com.

When your authentic self is seen as defiance, shame becomes a tool to force conformity. In this episode, we explore how families, partners, and communities can twist individuality into “disrespect,” the emotional cost of living for others’ approval, and the courage it takes to reclaim your own voice.

Thank you for tuning in to Unpacking Me! We appreciate each and every one of our listeners. Your presence in our community is truly valued, and we're grateful for each and every listener.

If today's episode resonated with you, consider taking a moment to subscribe, rate, and share your thoughts with a review on your preferred podcast platform. Your feedback is an essential part of our journey, and we appreciate the support!

For those seeking a Therapist in the Broward County, FL area, explore the services at www.dare2emerge.com.

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode discusses suicidal thoughts and emotional pain. Listener discretion advised. If you’re in crisis, please reach out: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (Call/Text 988, 988lifeline.org), Crisis Text Line (Text HOME to 741741 in U.S. & Canada, crisistextline.org), or Wildflower Alliance (Call/Text 888-407-4515, wildfloweralliance.org).

We explore the quiet space between wanting to end life and simply feeling too exhausted to live it. This raw conversation unpacks the toll of trauma, the difference between giving up and being suicidal, and how to find compassion and support when life feels too heavy.

Thank you for tuning in to Unpacking Me! We appreciate each and every one of our listeners. Your presence in our community is truly valued, and we're grateful for each and every listener.

If today's episode resonated with you, consider taking a moment to subscribe, rate, and share your thoughts with a review on your preferred podcast platform. Your feedback is an essential part of our journey, and we appreciate the support!

For those seeking a Therapist in the Broward County, FL area, explore the services at www.dare2emerge.com.

In this raw and reflective episode, we dive into the emotional labor of pretending to be okay when you're anything but. "Faking Joy" explores how trauma survivors often learn to wear happiness as a mask—smiling through pain, showing up for others while silently falling apart, and becoming experts at emotional camouflage. We unpack the deep-rooted survival patterns behind this performance, the cost it takes on our mental health, and how to start reclaiming authentic joy on our own terms. If you've ever felt like you're performing happiness just to be accepted or keep the peace, this conversation is for you.

Thank you for tuning in to Unpacking Me! We appreciate each and every one of our listeners. Your presence in our community is truly valued, and we're grateful for each and every listener.

If today's episode resonated with you, consider taking a moment to subscribe, rate, and share your thoughts with a review on your preferred podcast platform. Your feedback is an essential part of our journey, and we appreciate the support!

For those seeking a Therapist in the Broward County, FL area, explore the services at www.dare2emerge.com.

In this powerful episode, we explore how the pressure to appear "good," "proper," and "respectable" can silence our truth and erode our mental health. Respectability politics—especially in marginalized communities—often teaches us to suppress emotions, avoid conflict, and present perfection to gain acceptance or safety. But at what cost? We unpack the hidden toll this takes on self-worth, emotional expression, and healing. Join us as we discuss how breaking the silence and challenging these social expectations is a vital step toward authentic mental wellness and liberation.

Thank you for tuning in to Unpacking Me! We appreciate each and every one of our listeners. Your presence in our community is truly valued, and we're grateful for each and every listener.

If today's episode resonated with you, consider taking a moment to subscribe, rate, and share your thoughts with a review on your preferred podcast platform. Your feedback is an essential part of our journey, and we appreciate the support!

For those seeking a Therapist in the Broward County, FL area, explore the services at www.dare2emerge.com.