When difficult conversations with your partner feel overwhelming, when you need to resolve things right away or you need space to process, when a look or a tone shift sends your nervous system into overdrive, that's often PTSD showing up in your relationship. It doesn't mean you're broken or that you're the problem in the relationship.

There's a learnable process for managing your symptoms so they don't manage you. You can find the moment between what triggers you and how you respond. You can stay connected to your partner even when your nervous system wants to fight, flee, or freeze.

In this episode of The RISE to Intimacy, I'm walking through what happens in your body when you're triggered, why PTSD impacts romantic relationships the way it does, and the specific steps that help you notice and name emotions before they take over. I'm also sharing how my partner and I have learned to navigate this together. This is about taking ownership of your healing and learning practical regulation skills that actually work.

1:45 – ​​How my PTSD symptoms show up in the context of romantic relationships

4:16 – Why PTSD impacts romantic relationships (and a quick disclaimer before diving deeper)

5:46 – Common PTSD triggers that cause the nervous system to go into survival mode

7:40 – How learning to slow down internally can transform relationship conflict patterns

9:49 – The difference between character flaws and nervous system survival responses

13:09 – The moment between the stimulus and the response and how to find it

14:35 – What it really means to “feel your feelings” without being consumed by them

Mentioned In How PTSD Affects Romantic Relationships and What Actually Helps

Rise to Intimacy Free 30-Minute Consult

Leave a rating and review