Have you ever noticed that peace can feel uncomfortable after chaos? That silence can feel louder than shouting? When you stop reacting to the same old triggers, when you stop arguing, defending, or chasing, something inside you starts to shake. That’s called withdrawal.
Psychology calls it trauma-bond withdrawal—the emotional crash that happens when you cut off the very thing that used to control you. Your body and brain start asking, where’s the chaos I’m used to? Romans 12:2 reminds us, do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Freedom isn’t calm at first; it’s transformation, and that takes time.
Coach Gigi shares a personal reflection on her own morning of withdrawal and how peace can begin with trembling hands that choose not to fight back. She closes with a practical strategy called J-A-D-E-D—a reminder to stop justifying, arguing, defending, or engaging, and instead detach and deliver it to God. Healing starts when you choose boundaries over battles.
If you or someone you love is in danger, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit thehotline.org. Georgia residents can reach the Georgia Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-334-2836.
Visit focusfaithmentalhealth.com for resources, coaching, and more faith-based support.
Music: “Be Still and Know That I Am God,” written by Coach Gigi, accompaniment and arrangement by DeBary Thompson.
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