We are picking right back up with Rachel and Mike. Today, we revisit a highly charged memory that perfectly illustrates their negative cycle: a unilateral family decision made during a massive winter storm that completely brushed past Rachel's fierce reservations. For a widow who has already lived through losing a spouse, this wasn't just a disagreement about driving conditions—it was a life-or-death trigger that sent the crushing message that her voice didn't matter. In this episode, we explore the clinical approach to anger. We uncover how a "sharp tongue" is often just a desperate, exhausted plea to be heard, and what happens when that fiery protest goes unvalidated and eventually burns out into silent despair. On the other side of the couch, Mike reveals how his endless logic and "word vomit" are actually a desperate shield to protect himself from the profound sadness of feeling utterly unseen and unappreciated. Witness what happens when the fortress finally comes down and they learn to hold space for each other's deepest wounds. This Week's Homework: Think about your own coping mechanisms. When you feel deeply unseen or unheard by your partner, do you pull out a sharp tongue to protest, or do you pull out the shield of logic and endless words to defend yourself? The next time you feel that urge, I challenge you to take a breath, step inside, and simply speak the vulnerable truth out loud: "I'm hurting right now, and I really need you to see me." As always, we want to hear from you. Send your questions, your breakthroughs, or a voice note to [email protected], and please leave us a five-star rating on Spotify or Apple! Follow Julie Menanno on social media @thesecurerelationship. For weekly homework assignments visit our website: The Secure Relationship Podcast Take Julie's Anxious Attachment Course: Anxious Attachment: Self-Work Course Purchase Julie's book Secure Love: Create a Relationship That Lasts a Lifetime.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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