The concept of trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are increasingly familiar in mainstream culture. Many folks have a basic idea of what they mean. They probably could also list many of the most common — and dramatic — symptoms. Nightmares, flashbacks, and self-isolation would be on that list.
But PTSD can manifest in some very subtle ways. For example, there is the need to please. Individuals who have endured traumatic events often slide into a pattern of people-pleasing (or fawning). It is as if everyone is seen as a potential threat. Therefore, it makes sense to please all those people in advance.
What is Trauma-Related People-Pleasing?
There are obvious cases. We all know that co-worker who kisses up to the bosses. After trauma, fawning is far less apparent. The person doing it may very be unaware of their own behavior. Internally, however, they fear being abused again. As a result, they make a bargain in their heads. “If I surrender my rights and boundaries, this person will be nice to me.”
In other words, the only way to stop the abuse is to keep the abuser happy. Rather than choose “fight” or “flight” in times of potential crisis, the trauma survivor goes with the third option: freeze. Of course, people-pleasing usually ends up pleasing no one. The person doing the fawning, in fact, is left with many negative outcomes, e.g.
- Having no boundaries and being taken advantage of
- Being overwhelmed from taking on too much responsibility
- Codependency
- Unwilling or unable to hold personal opinions
- Feeling ashamed, guilty, and angry with oneself
How the Need to Please Shows Up After Trauma
1. Loss of Individual Autonomy
The trauma survivor loses sight of their own identity. Their desire to avoid conflict leads them to:
- Wait for others to state opinions before they know what they “should” think and feel
- Be out of touch with their own emotions, beliefs, and values
- Never commit to any particular philosophy or state of mind
You might be a person who prefers to maintain strong opinions. All things being equal, you’re fine with disagreement. But the traumatic experience has caused you to neglect these values. So, you laugh along at jokes you find offensive. You agree to eat at restaurants you don’t really like. The list goes on.
2. Can’t Say “No”
This may be the most common yet strangely missed symptom. People victimized by trauma have the hardest time saying “no” to anyone — except themselves. They get buried under an avalanche of favors and secretly resent the people they’re helping.
3. Guilt
Building off that last sentence in sign #2, people-pleasing generates a lot of unexpressed anger. But just the mere act of feeling anger with others is enough to cause you so much guilt. How could you think bad things about that person, you wonder? In the quest to feel neither anger nor guilt, you learn to suppress your emotions. You frequently dissociate or “blank out.” Anything is better than letting yourself feel because you believe feeling leads to pain.
4. Taking Responsibility For Others
You feel it’s up to you to keep others happy. Thus, you allow others to control making plans. You don’t dare risk recommending a movie or bar for fear that your choice will lead them to be unhappy.
Getting Started with EMDR in Lakewood & Longmont Colorado
Trauma is not something to take lightly or to self-treat. PTSD is a diagnosable condition that requires professional intervention. If any of the above sounded familiar, you’d be best served by talking with a therapist about trauma therapy and other supports to help you fully recover. Set up a free consultation. Take that first step, let’s work together to break the cycle that trauma has created for you. It’s time to heal.
We invite you to call us at 720-551-4553 for a free 20-minute phone consultation. You can schedule your appointment via phone, email, or the contact page on our website. We offer both in-person and online trauma counseling. We’re open to whichever option you feel more comfortable with. We look forward to hearing from you!