Many couples get stuck in arguments or silence without knowing what’s really going on underneath. Often, there’s something much deeper at play: primal panic. This is the fear that makes you fight, flee, or freeze when you feel unsafe in your relationship.

Primal panic is the shock that shoots through your body when you feel like your partner doesn’t see, hear, or need you anymore. It’s the fear that connects us all, deep down: the fear of being left alone. This feeling doesn’t come out of nowhere: it’s rooted in evolution. As humans, we’re wired to feel safe with others.