I had never really heard the word “safe” used in a non-physically risky context until my first inpatient stay. After that, I hardly could describe what I was feeling without using the word. Feeling “unsafe” was like saying I felt not-okay + restless + fearful + on-edge + anxious + in danger. It’s hard to explain because it is just this underlying/unconscious/indescribable feeling.
When I stumbled upon this article (Safety Can Be Learned – And Helps Combat Depression), everything seemed to just make sense — the fear conditioning …