Protecting the Friend Within – Part 2: From Shrinking to Blowing Up and the Struggle to Use Our Voice

Why is it so hard to say no?

In this episode, we dig into the real reasons we struggle to use our voice; whether you shrink, shut down, or explode when something doesn’t feel right. From the guilt of disappointing others to the fear of how someone might react, many of us were taught early on that keeping the peace meant keeping quiet. Or getting loud.

This one’s for the people pleasers, the ones who freeze, and the ones who come in hot.

We’ll explore:

• How your response style formed (freeze, fawn, fight, or flight)

• What happens inside when you abandon yourself to avoid conflict

• The difference between self-protection and self-abandonment

• Simple boundary scripts for when your voice feels shaky or explosive

You don’t have to earn your peace by staying silent.
You don’t have to destroy a relationship to protect yourself either.
There’s another way and we’re learning it together.

Until next time, keep protecting the friend within.