Tag Archives: fear of happiness

A symbolic image illustrating why joy feels unsafe—a person presses against glass as lightning and butterflies surround them, embodying the emotional conflict between trauma and happiness.

Why Joy Feels Unsafe—And How to Make It Yours Again

“You don’t fear joy. You fear what came next.” Why joy feels unsafe isn’t a metaphor—it’s a pattern your body learned. The moment happiness lands, your muscles tense. Breathing tightens. A silent alarm goes off in your system, hijacking what should feel like ease. To be clear, this isn’t dysfunction. It’s a brilliant adaptation your…

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