Gray Manis, LCSW PLLC

1464 Gray Manis-05 21 26-EMDR Therapy-Phill Podcast Episode · NY Executive Podcast The Next Million Streams Could Be Yours · May 26 · 5m

Childhood wounds don’t always look the way you think.

Maybe no one hit you, you had food and shelter, and your parents weren't monsters.

But somewhere along the way, you absorbed messages that shaped how you see yourself and show up in relationships today.

Maybe you heard:

"You're so independent, you don't need anyone." So now asking for help feels impossible.

"This family depends on you." So now you can't say no without feeling guilty.

"You're too much" or "You're the problem." So now you apologize for taking up space.

Or, "I'm too busy for you." So now you've learned not to expect much from people.

It might not have been said out loud. But it was the role you were made to play.

And most of the time, these painful roles were given to us by caretakers who were doing the best they could with their own wounds.

These messages are still running in the background today. They affect who you choose, how you show up in conflict, whether you stay or leave, and how safe you feel being truly known.

The first step to changing your patterns is recognizing which message you absorbed.

Which one resonates most for you?