The Survival Self vs. Real Self Map: How to stop mistaking trauma responses for who you really are.

You don’t need to shame the part of you that kept you alive.
But you do need to stop confusing it with who you actually are.

If you’ve survived therapist abuse, narcissistic manipulation, trauma, or emotional abandonment, you've probably created a version of yourself who’s incredibly good at keeping you safe. I call this your Survival Self.

Your Survival Self knows exactly what to say, when to hide your needs, how to nod yes even when you're screaming no, and how to shrink so you won't be abandoned again. But the problem comes when you start believing this version is really you.

It’s not.

This one-page map helps you instantly identify whether you're acting from Survival or Real Self, including:

• How your Survival Self handles conflict versus your Real Self
• How to clearly spot behaviors that feel safe but keep you stuck
• How to quickly shift back into your Real Self—the strongest, clearest, most grounded part of you.

Use this tool to reclaim clarity, boundaries, and your voice—without shame, self-blame, or second-guessing.

This is exactly what I needed when I realized I wasn’t intense or difficult—I was just in survival mode.

Because your Real Self deserves room to breathe.

Created by Cody Taymore
Kill The Silence

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