26/08/2026
Imagine being a baby..
Elderly…
Or having a broken leg…
And being alone—
In the dark,
In the middle of the jungle.
We would all be pretty defenceless.
Tigers, leopards, or bears will avoid even small groups of humans at all costs, if they can help it—
But they won’t pass up a free meal.
For hundreds of thousands of years that was the reality that faced us all of we got lost, separated from, or abandoned by our tribe.
So it’s easy to see in that context why, evolutionarily, we would do almost anything not to be chastised, shunned, or potentially banished, by our tribe, friend circle, or social group.
A lot had changed in the last 200 years…
But our physiology has not.
Despite the worst of humanity that we often see on social media— humans still generally care for each other, help each other, share food, look after children that are not their own, and perform other acts of kindness— that’s how we continue to survive to be here today.
In people who have experienced the trauma of being physically or emotionally abandoned, abused, or having love withheld, that survival instinct can be turned up to 11.
We can be more likely to resort to “self preservation” mechanisms— fawning, placating, and people pleasing— that often end up having the polar opposite effect.
Often losing ourselves completely in the process of trying to fit in, feel safe, and not rock the boat.
We will justify horrible treatment toward us.
And in extreme cases people might change themselves completely, taking on a whole new persona, or collecting personality traits like Pokémon cards.
But that acting in itself triggers the nervous system into threat mode.
If you’ve never felt the feeling of meeting someone who you don’t have to perform, put on and act, or be someone else to be liked, heard, or understood— it’s immediately disarming.
Which can be a problem in itself— as many abusers and manipulators exploit exactly that opening to worm their way past your usual defences.
An experience which can make it very tempting to isolate, avoid people and relationships, and only associate with cats, and the pigeons in the park.
But for the reasons pointed out above— that lack of social connection and safety can slowly erode away at our mental and physical health.
I wish i had an easy answer— but as someone who is neurodivergent and has experienced a lot of trauma myself— this is something i have struggled with personally in my own daily life.
That’s why i created The Entourage Effect, not just as a business, a shop, or a treatment room…
But as a space where everyone can feel welcome, be themselves, make friends, and talk about their problems.
Without judgement, or feeling the need to put on an act, or persona.
Where you don’t need to pretend that things are worse than they are just to be listened to— or put on a brave face and pretend everything is alright…
Just to not make any waves, be a burden, bore people, or make them feel uncomfortable with your problems.
If that sounds like the kind of place that you, or someone you love really needs then don’t struggle alone…
Pop by. Drop in.
Take the mask off.
And let your nervous system breathe.
