The (Significant) Downside of Fawning

Fawning is a trauma response. And it’s one we don’t talk about enough.

In this episode, Danielle is digging into fawning as a default stress response. Most people misunderstand it. Fawning isn’t just being nice or deferential—it’s a survival mechanism that many of us picked up in childhood, and now it’s messing with our relationships, our confidence, and even our nervous system. 

She unpacks how fawning isn’t as physiological as fight, flight, or freeze—it’s more of a personality gimmick. We think it’s safer to please other people than to be our authentic selves. And that… erodes trust in every direction. 

In this episode:

• The difference between fawning and other stress responses
• How childhood (and chronic stress) trains us to fawn
• A real story of working with someone who fawned—and how it impacted trust
• The connection between fawning and chronic pain or illness
• Why spiritual practice is the antidote
• Healing practices to transmute the fawn response with love

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

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• Nourish System—reduce stress and restore your nervous system.
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