Because our nervous system is wired to need others, rejection is painful. Romantic rejection especially hurts and missing connection share the evolutionary purpose of survival and reproduction. Ideally, loneliness should encourage you reach out to others and maintain your relationships. …

Authenticity is the opposite of shame. It reveals our humanity and allows us to connect with others. Shame creates most all codependency symptoms including hiding who we are, sacrificing our needs, and saying yes when we rather not - all to be accepted by someone else. It warps our commu…