Have you ever reacted under stress and immediately thought, “Why did I say that? That’s not who I am.” If pressure makes you sharp, withdrawn, overly apologetic, or disconnected, this episode will bring relief and clarity.

In this episode of Unlock Your Blocks, trauma-informed executive coach Elyssa Smith explains why stress and survival mode disconnect you from your true self — and why the version of you that shows up under pressure is not a character flaw.

You’ll learn how fight, flight, freeze, and especially fawn responses override your values when your nervous system perceives threat, why high-achieving women are especially vulnerable to this pattern, and how to pause before reacting in ways you later regret.

• Why stress prioritizes protection over connection and values
• How survival mode hijacks your responses in conflict or pressure
• The difference between your true self and your protector self
• Why fawning and over-apologizing are so common in high-achieving women
• How childhood pressure wires reactive responses in adulthood
• Why shame and regret often follow stress reactions
• The “palm tree vs. oak tree” model for real resilience
• A simple pause practice to stop saying things you regret
• How nervous system regulation helps you respond instead of react

00:00 — Why You Regret What You Say Under Pressure 01:40 — Protection vs. Connection in Survival Mode 03:30 — Fight, Flight, Freeze, and Fawn Explained 05:10 — Why High-Achieving Women Default to Fawning 06:45 — When Stress Pulls You Away from Your Values 08:10 — Shame, Regret, and the 2 a.m. Spiral 09:45 — The Palm Tree vs. Oak Tree: Real Resilience 11:20 — How to Pause Before You React 12:45 — Reconnecting to Your True Self Under Stress

✨ 5 Nervous System Tricks You Can Do at Your Desk Designed specifically for high-achieving women who want to calm their body in under 60 seconds — even in the middle of the workday. 👉 Download it here: https://elyssasmith.com/reset

Book your FREE 15-minute Unlock Your Blocks Focus Call to uncover what’s keeping you from the balance, clarity, and peace you’ve been craving. This private call is just for women who are ready to stop running on empty and start leading with ease. 👉 elyssasmith.com/focus

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