Understanding CPTSD: Abandonment Fear: Repair

In this episode, how abandonment fear shapes conflict repair in CPTSD — and one repair move you can try after a spike. Hosted by Gregory.

In this episode, Gregory explores how trauma rewires everyday conflict into life-or-death fears of abandonment. He shares personal stories of shutdowns, over-apologies, and racing thoughts after simple plan changes or quiet moments. Listeners hear why the nervous system treats distance as danger and how old survival patterns like fawn or fight keep showing up. The conversation covers practical ways to notice these spikes early, name what is happening, and choose steadier responses. Research from the CDC and attachment theory explains why repair often stalls and how new experiences can slowly rewrite the old alarms. By the end you will see these reactions as understandable adaptations rather than personal failures, opening space for calmer connections that last.

What You'll Learn:
• Spot the first signs of abandonment panic before it takes over.
• Pause and name the old pattern to regain choice in the moment.
• Practice repair without rushing to fix or defend every tension.
• Reduce the cost of lost friendships and strained family ties.
• Build evidence that relationships can handle disagreement safely.

Key Insights:
• Trauma converts neutral schedule changes into survival threats.
• Fawn and fight responses developed because early repair was never modeled.
• A short text or raised eyebrow can trigger the same alarm as real loss.
• Naming the reaction creates a brief window for a different response.
• Consistent new experiences slowly update the nervous system's old predictions.

Recommended Resources:
• Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving by Pete Walker
• Attachment and Loss by John Bowlby
• CDC Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study reports
• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
• National Institute of Mental Health attachment resources page

Coming Up Next
Tune in next time as we unpack how trauma affects self-trust and decision-making, giving you tools to move forward with more confidence.

📩 Have questions or want to share your experience? Reach out at cptsd@senseofthisshit.com.
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