We discuss what happens to your brain and identity during prolonged stress, illness, loss, and survival mode. We explore how cortisol increases, your threat detection system stays active, and your identity gradually narrows as your brain prioritizes safety over confidence. We explain that you didn't lose yourself during hard times—you adapted and became who you needed to be to survive. While this adaptation is necessary, it can later feel like disconnection from your true self. We also examine this from a psychiatric perspective as a protective response where the brain limits emotional exposure to reduce pain, which over time can manifest as numbness, self-doubt, or low self-worth—not because something is wrong with you, but because something happened to you. #MentalHealth #StressManagement #TraumaRecovery #SelfIdentity #CortisolStress