If you’re anything like me, you like to make your friends and family happy. When Aunt Mary starts ranting about politics at Thanksgiving, you rush to the kitchen to grab her favorite pumpkin pie, just to keep the peace. That’s normal. But if you’re a chronic people pleaser, that might be the result of childhood trauma. And we finally have more context on why people pleasers act the way they do: It’s called the fawn trauma response. If you find yourself constantly going above and beyond for everyone and feeling guilty when you don’t, you need to read this. I spoke to trauma therapist Janet Bayramyan for more information on how to cope if you relate to some of the signs of the fawn trauma response below.

Meet the Expert

Janet Bayramyan, LCSW, is a certified EMDR trauma therapist at Road to Wellness. She has more than eight years of experience as a trauma therapist and is licensed in California, Florida, South Carolina, Texas, Connecticut and North Carolina. She has worked with individuals with a history of trauma and addictions, couples facing relationship challenges and individuals experiencing significant life transitions. Bayramyan approaches therapy from a supportive and strengths-based perspective, always considering one’s strengths, cultural background and identity.

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