If you’ve ever found yourself longing for someone who sends mixed signals, pulls close then withdraws, or gives you intense connection followed by silence, you’re not alone — and you’re not weak. Two forces are working together: 1. Childhood emotional neglect 2. The dopamine–intermittent reinforcement cycle Together, they create a powerful emotional and neurological pull that can feel almost impossible to break. This is not a character flaw. It’s a pattern rooted in your earl

You tell yourself you’re fine. You’re strong, understanding, patient. You don’t ask for much.But deep down, there’s that quiet ache — the sense that something’s missing, that you’re always giving more than you receive. You try to be reasonable, to not ask for too much. You tell yourself your partner’s just stressed, tired, not great at talking about emotions. You make excuses because you love them  — and because part of you still believes that if you’re kind enough, patient e

Patterns of Emotional Disconnection: Finding the Compass Back to Yourself Some people grow up without much nurturance. Nurturance is a basic childhood psychological need. To develop into healthy adults, children need to be nurtured. This is part of the healthy attachment system. If the side of a child that longs to be soothed isn’t looked after, they can grow into adults who don’t know what nurturance is. They may not understand what it feels like or even that this missing p

Narcissistic Traits vs. Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) vs. Immature Parents Understanding the difference between narcissistic...

Watching The Iron Claw , I was struck by the childlike quality of the main character, played by Zac Efron. There is something profoundly young about him, as though part of him never quite had the chance to develop in the presence of a safe, emotionally attuned adult. At first, parts of the family picture appear almost idyllic. The boys are action-oriented, competing, wrestling, and striving together in ways that seem natural within the world they inhabit. There is energy, phy

How to Heal and Thrive as an Adult Raised by Narcissistic Parents Growing up with narcissistic parents can have lasting emotional effects...

Understanding Coping Modes in Schema Therapy: In Schema Therapy , coping modes  refer to the different ways individuals adapt or respond...