Blog for
Chris Lauzon - Therapist, LICSW

We are often encouraged to “take the wheel,” to lead, to be independent, to trust no one but ourselves. There is wisdom in that message, especially if your history includes trauma and loss, disappointment, betrayal, or the painful realization that not everyone who offered directions had your destination in mind. But, there is another truth that deserves equal space, it is sometimes OK to be a passenger.

When a relationship ends whether you made the decision or the choice was made for you, you’re often left standing in the quiet aftermath, surrounded by emotions that feel heavy, tangled, and confusing. Grief. Loss. Sadness. Anxiety. Fear. Anger. Shame. Guilt. Not everyone experiences all of these, but most folks experience some combination, and when they do, it can feel as though they’ve been placed inside a box: a confined emotional space where movement feels restricted and

When we’re in the grip of a crisis response (what many call a panic attack) our system goes into full alert. Heart racing. Breathing shallow. Skin tingling or sweating. Thoughts flying. Judgments stacking. It can feel like the world is closing in, or that we’re about to lose control entirely. But beneath all of this is a simple truth: We are reacting to a perceived threat.