Fawning: The Survival Response No One Talks About

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Inside the Wellspace: Women, Wellbeing, Wisdom with Cathy O'Brien

Cathy O'Brien

31 episodes

5 days ago

Inside the Wellspace is a podcast redefining women’s wellness through a female lens. For too long, women’s health has been treated from a male perspective. Hosted by wellness advocate Cathy O’Brien—who brings 25+ years in global beauty, a master’s in social work, and her own health journey—the show offers real conversations about often-overlooked aspects of women’s health. From hormones and mental resilience to sleep and bone health, Cathy talks with top experts to break down the science and share practical, evidence-based tools. The goal: to help you feel informed, empowered, and in control.

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Fawning: The Survival Response No One Talks About | Dr. Ingrid Clayton

Inside the Wellspace: Women, Wellbeing, Wisdom with Cathy O'Brien

53 minutes 24 seconds

2 months ago

Fawning: The Survival Response No One Talks About | Dr. Ingrid Clayton

Have you ever caught yourself saying yes when every part of you wanted to scream no? That’s not weakness — it’s survival.

Dr. Ingrid Clayton, clinical psychologist, trauma expert, and author of “Fawning: Why the Need to Please Makes Us Lose Ourselves and How to Find Our Way Back,” unpacks the fawn response — the trauma survival pattern we’ve been taught to applaud as “being nice,” “helpful,” or “easygoing.”

Dr. Clayton joins Inside the Wellspace with Cathy O’Brien to share how chronic fawning disconnects us from our true selves, how it shows up in our relationships, and what it really takes to heal. Drawing from her own story and two decades of clinical experience, she reveals how reclaiming your voice and learning to “unfawn” can transform your sense of agency, authenticity, and safety.

Guest Resources:

Dr. Ingrid Clayton - https://linktr.ee/Ingridclayton

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Fawning and Trauma Responses

02:50 Understanding the Fawn Response

05:50 The Journey to Recognizing Fawning

08:48 Fawning in Relationships and Power Dynamics

11:53 Identifying Fawning in Ourselves

14:56 The Impact of Fawning on Self-Identity

17:56 Personal Journeys and Breaking Free from Fawning

20:43 Navigating Anger and Self-Agency

23:45 The Role of Hormones and Aging in Fawning

28:47 The Complexity of Forgiveness

33:25 Understanding Conflict and Triggers

34:43 Redefining Relationship Chemistry

36:51 The Journey of Unfawning

38:54 Owning Our Trauma

40:42 The Importance of Radical Honesty

43:20 Dissociation and Overwhelm

45:35 Understanding Trauma and Its Impact

47:29 Exploring Trauma Therapy Modalities

52:41 Finding the Right Therapist

54:44 The Power of Shared Stories

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Visit The Well Space for Women: https://www.insidethewellspace.com/

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