I asked my therapist: “Why do keep assuming people are upset with me?” The therapist didn’t smile. She try to correct me. said something that shattered me: “Because you were trained sense tension… before it turned into chaos.” You get way by accident. learned study every facial twitch. To track moods like weather systems. guess what felt they a word. Because in your house waiting find out could hurt more than just knowing. So now? A shift tone = panic. sigh rejection. quiet pause the start of awful. Not because you’re dramatic. But nervous system memorized danger patterns while other kids learning trust. became skilled at: - Softening so no one would snap Saying sorry case was fault Holding breath peace That’s not social anxiety. emotional muscle memory. This is happens when love has conditions. be kid. an interpreter. express feelings. calculated risk. feel safe. responsible. And now even years later still flinch things “too quiet.” overthink messages emojis. rehearse how fix things… go wrong. Your body isn’t overreacting. It’s remembering. about insecurity. survival. stayed on high alert long after gone. no can’t “just over it.” have teach safety feels like. Bit bit. Healing pretending past happen. meeting part who: Learned came landmines Believed calm suspicious Thought warning sign logic away. listen. next time someone’s silence threatening… Breathe. it’s “all head.” needs know: dangerous. moment past. don’t disappear safe anymore. You’re too sensitive. needy. broken. holding instincts child who had survive unpredictable love. room powerless doesn’t mean staying small. It means you.