I understand why it’s confusing, but trauma changes how the brain works and once those neural pathways are created reinforcement becomes much more likely. Once everything is a fight-or-flight event it’s very hard to break free. Even now, decades later, I have a habit of over explaining as a defense mechanism just to proactively defuse potential misunderstandings (not always perfectly but I’m glad we’re having this conversation) both online and afk. Not everybody gets the opportunities to adapt and recover the way I did, so it feels important to respond with empathy for them.