Joseph BeeneyPsychologist, PhD

About

No one chooses to struggle. We don’t decide to get depressed or anxious. Difficulties in close relationships aren’t wished for. Low self-esteem isn’t a preference. We come about these struggles honestly, often from legacies of trauma or adversity, or more subtle, but still difficult developmental contexts. Often, it’s the skillful adaptation to these less-than-ideal contexts that causes us the most struggle. Anxious hypervigilance and mistrust are protective in dangerous contexts. Avoiding our emotions and avoiding seeking support are protective when others reject our bids for care. And, yet, unlearning what protected us is hard.