I really wanted to make shorter episodes for you guys, but this episode really needed the length to explain each issue of fear, trauma, addiction, attachment, toxic relationships, and familiar family dynamics, while also bridging the gap between them to illustrate how they are each so intimately connected. Often times, we see we have issues, but don't see how they are often the same issues just interconnected with one another. In order to untangle the web, I first discuss emotional regulation & what it is before getting into how our ability or inability to regulate dictate almost everything we do in our lives. Afterall, emotions are out greatest motivators for our actions, and if we don't know ow to regulate, we can see everything in our lives crumble & breakdown. However, there is hope. By looking back into our family dynamics, we can easily trace what went awry. I talk about how all of these family dynamics affect our brain and subsequent emotional wiring & how that wiring then interacts with other people's wiring on a relational level. While this episode was originally inspired by a friend, it quickly became something that was obvious I needed to work on. I talk in depth about a situationship that hurt me deeply, but finally brought me our of my co-dependent ways and into more independent self-regulation. I had no idea this was the missing piece that would literally change everything for me! I truly believe mastering emotionally regulation & understanding how deep it goes into our lives is the key to finally have a successful relationship with yourself, others, and in everything you will do in your future.