You’ve done everything “right”—you’re successful, capable, and high-functioning. But beneath the polished exterior? You’re exhausted. Disconnected. Over it.

In this episode, Gia sits down with therapist, coach, and cycle-breaker Alyssa Scarano to unpack the truth about trauma responses that get rewarded—until they stop working. Together, they explore how coping mechanisms like over-functioning, hyper-independence, emotional suppression, and busyness are often rooted in childhood survival, not strength.

Alyssa opens up about her own identity shift through motherhood, the pressure to be everything for everyone, and the moment she realized being strong was costing her peace. If you’ve ever felt like the success you built came at the expense of your own well-being, this conversation will hit deep.

Topics We Cover:

The hidden trauma behind “doing it all”
Signs you’re stuck in survival mode (even if you look fine)
Why hyper-independence isn’t a flex—it’s a wound
How motherhood exposes generational patterns
The truth about self-loyalty and nervous system safety
What it actually looks like to break cycles and come home to yourself

This episode is for the woman who’s done mistaking exhaustion for excellence. Your coping got you applause. But it also got you anxiety. Disconnection. Collapse. You can’t heal by doing more of what broke you. It’s time to stop performing and start reclaiming.

Learn more about Alyssa here: collective-therapy.com

Your Coping Mechanisms Got You Here— Now They’re Holding You Back

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