In this episode Ress discuss' how people often keep “survival identities” long after the hard chapter that created them has ended. Ress distinguishes identity from adaptation, noting traits like hyper-independence, emotional detachment and intimidation can be protective strategies that later feel like personality especially when these traits get us socially rewarded. There can be a grief and identity transition that follows when survival ends and we are left knowing who we were but unsure about who we are becoming.
When the chapter ends, but the identity remains
