Show Notes
Sometimes survival means putting on a mask.
In this episode of The Notebook, Hiba Balfaqih explores why survivors can learn to hide their pain, appear strong, and convince the world—and sometimes themselves—that everything is fine.
Through moments from The Shadow Sessions, Hiba unpacks the psychology behind the mask: why we create it, how it protects us, and what happens when we’re finally ready to take it off.
More from The Shadow Sessions
How does someone go from escaping an abusive relationship to joining an extremist organization just six weeks later?
Martin is gay. Brandi is straight. They’re married, raising a daughter together, and neither of them is planning to leave.
What happens psychologically when the people meant to protect you become the ones taking away your choices?
What happens when the people who love you believe that harming you is an act of protection?