If your heart races before a hard conversation, if you rehearse what you'll say a hundred times before you say it, or if you'd rather swallow your feelings than risk an awkward moment... this episode is for you.Jeff is joined by Dr. Amy Fortney Parks, a child and adolescent psychologist with a PhD in Educational Psychology and a specialty in developmental neuroscience, to talk about conflict anxiety: why tough conversations feel physically threatening, and what actually helps you move through them.In this episode:- Why your body treats conflict like a survival threat (and why that makes total sense)- The difference between fear as a stop sign vs. a signal- How to make one clear, present-tense request instead of building a case file- Why regulating before the conversation is the real move- What "positive conflict" actually looks like, and why couples who never fight might be a red flag- A realism check: not every relationship is safe for this, and that's worth knowing5 Simple Moves:1. Name what's happening in your body and remember what it's protecting2. Treat fear like a signal, not a stop sign3. Make one clear, present-tense request4. Regulate before you start, then open softer than you think you need to5. Practice the good kind of conflict: the kind that's actually engagementFind Dr. Amy:Website: heydoctoramy.comInstagram: @heydoctoramySimple Mental Health is part of the Pondoff's Anonymous Podcast Network. Find more shows at pondoffsanonymous.com.