Communication:

• Acknowledging Needs: Many individuals are not even aware of their unmet needs, leading to feelings of resentment and frustration.
• Expectations from Partners: There is a common but unrealistic expectation that partners should magically understand and fulfill needs without explicit communication.
• Self-awareness: Recognizing and understanding one's needs is crucial before expecting a partner to meet them.

Identifying Needs:

• Connection to Emotions: Emotions are indicators of unmet needs. For instance, feelings of confusion might indicate a need for clarity, which can be addressed by initiating conversations.
• Safety in Expression: Creating a sense of safety to explore and express emotions is vital. Trauma can make it difficult for individuals to sit with their emotions, leading to over-productivity as a coping mechanism.

Self-Discovery and Relationship Readiness:

• Balance of Self and Partnership: While self-discovery is important, expecting to be fully healed before entering a relationship is unrealistic. Knowing one's needs, emotions, boundaries, values, and preferences provides a foundation for healthy relationships.
• Dependency in Relationships: It is important to strike a balance between self-reliance and relying on a partner. While partners should not be expected to fulfill all needs, some core relationship needs must be met.

Effective Communication Strategies:

• Expressing Needs Clearly: Articulating needs in a non-accusatory manner, such as "I need this because it makes me feel..." can reduce defensiveness and promote understanding.
• Handling Responses: Accepting that a partner may not always respond positively to expressed needs, and using their response as information for further decision-making.

Conflict and Arguments:

• Healthy Arguing: Learning to argue constructively is crucial. The best time to learn how to handle conflicts is when things are going well.
• Commitment to Well-being: Both partners must commit to preserving each other's well-being and having difficult conversations for mutual growth.

Support the show

Welcome to Trauma Bonding to Relationship Success with Dr Sarah — the podcast that helps ambitious individuals and couples heal trauma bonding and toxic relationship cycles to build secure attachments and loving healthy relationships.

Hosted by Dr Sarah, psychologist, relationship strategist, and founder of Heal Trauma Bonding and Relationship Success Lab, this show guides you through practical tools and deep insights on:

✅ Healing from trauma bonding, narcissistic abuse, and emotional manipulation
✅ Building emotional resilience and secure attachment styles a
✅ Improving communication, empathy, and emotional intimacy
✅ Reclaiming your identity, boundaries, and self-worth
✅ Creating lasting relationship happiness and passion

Whether you're recovering from betrayal, navigating codependency, or simply ready to break free from the past, this podcast gives you the clarity, strength, and strategy to move forward

We hope you got massive value from this episode for your own healing and relationship progress. However if you do want to discuss your situation further, click here ttps://calendly.com/relationshipsuccesslab-info/discovery-call

LinkedIn: Dr Sarah (Alsawy) Davies

Instagram handle: @dr.sarahalsawy