Allison K. Dagney
Allison K. Dagney
10 Ways Defending Yourself Keeps You Trapped: When Survival is a Cage
10 Ways Defending Yourself Keeps You Trapped: When Survival is a Cage
10 Ways Defending Yourself Keeps You Trapped: When Survival is a Cage
Tuesday 15th July 2025
Explore how self-defense mechanisms post-trauma can trap you, and learn ways to break free with Allison K. Dagney's insights.
53 minutes
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challenging
informative
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About this podcast
Author:
Allison K. Dagney
Overview:
Categories:
Recovery from Trauma
Healing from Sexual Trauma
Healing Relationships
Mindful Recovery
Understanding Addiction & Recovery
Links:
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Episodes:
231 (View all)
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Get the buttons here!Breaking Free from Defense Mechanisms
Episode Overview
- Defense mechanisms can become barriers.
- Recognize unconscious survival patterns.
- Awareness is the first step to change.
- Over-explaining drains energy and feeds doubt.
- Vulnerability opens pathways for healing.
Your trauma teaches you to defend yourself, but sometimes those defenses become the walls that keep you trapped.
In this enlightening episode of The Be A Better You Podcast, emotional healing coach Allison K. Dagney addresses the complex and often hidden ways in which self-defense mechanisms developed after emotional abuse and trauma can inadvertently trap individuals in their own survival cages. This episode is particularly resonant for those who have experienced toxic relationships or have been through significant emotional challenges.
Allison underscores the importance of recognizing that these defense strategies, while initially protective, can evolve into barriers that hinder personal growth and emotional freedom. Allison begins by emphasizing that living in survival mode often equips individuals with sophisticated self-defense skills, which are essential for protection. However, these very defenses can restrict one's ability to flourish. She lists ten ways in which defending oneself might contribute to feeling stuck.
These include over-explaining decisions, expecting others to understand without clear communication, and maintaining perfectionism as a shield against harm. One of the key insights shared is the necessity for awareness as a precursor to change. Understanding and acknowledging these unconscious patterns is crucial to breaking free from their grip. Allison encourages listeners to recognize where survival strategies have built walls around them, transforming protective mechanisms into cages.
She offers practical advice for shifting these patterns, such as embracing vulnerability and communicating needs directly, rather than expecting others to read between the lines. Through this process, individuals can lower their defenses and find confidence to be their true selves, leaving past wounds behind. Allison concludes the episode by inviting listeners to engage with her through various platforms for further support and to explore her programs that aim to uncover and address the root causes of their struggles.
Her ultimate goal is to illuminate areas that might be holding individuals back, helping them achieve their highest potential. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their own experiences, embrace the journey of healing, and contribute to a better world by sharing their insights and leaving reviews of the podcast.