if disagreements used to lead to yelling, shutdown, or emotional distance, your nervous system may still believe that speaking up risks losing connection. So you stay quiet, smooth things over, or tell yourself it’s “not worth it.” Over time, that silence often turns into disconnection. Before a hard conversation, ask yourself: 💡What am I afraid would happen if I said this out loud? 💡What do I actually need right now (reassurance, understanding, or change)? You don’t have to start with the per