In this episode of Miss Matched, Nicole sits down with intimacy expert and relationship coach Allana Pratt to talk about the real reason so many of us struggle in love: we’ve never been taught how to stay connected to ourselves when emotions hit.They unpack self-abandonment, people-pleasing, nervous system regulation, healing heartbreak, and how to actually “sit in the fire” of fear, shame, and insecurity without trying to fix or numb it. Allana shares practical tools for emotional integration, dating with self-trust, and building a “whole mate” relationship—plus simple weekly communication practices (including 20-second hugs and relationship dyads) that can strengthen intimacy and repair conflict.If you’ve ever felt “too much,” struggled with boundaries, or keep repeating the same relationship patterns, this episode will help you come home to yourself—and date from that place.