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Peter Pan Syndrome: Why You’re Afraid to Commit (and What to Do About It)
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Pat welcomes Natacha Duke, a registered psychotherapist at Toronto Wellness Counselling, for a deep and compassionate exploration of Peter Pan Syndrome — a behavioral pattern marked by emotional immaturity, fear of responsibility, and resistance to growth. Together, they unpack the roots of emotional avoidance, the impact of parenting and trauma, and the numbing behaviors that can delay our growth into purpose-driven adulthood. Pat also shares his own lived experience with Peter Pan Syndrome, offering a vulnerable lens on what it really means to grow up, build meaningful connections, and live with integrity.
What You’ll Learn:
- What Peter Pan Syndrome really is (and why it’s not a clinical diagnosis)
- How parenting styles and early attachment shape emotional development
- Why commitment issues and “failure to launch” often trace back to childhood wounds
- The role of trauma, numbing, and emotional stagnation in adult life
- What inner child work looks like — and why it matters
- How to start living with more self-awareness, responsibility, and purpose
Social Media:
- After Peter Pan Podcast:
- Natacha Duke:
Chapters
1. Hook & Intro (00:00:00)
2. What Is Peter Pan Syndrome? (00:01:47)
3. How Inner Child Work Heals Emotional Immaturity (00:08:30)
4. The Hidden Role of Shame in Emotional Avoidance (00:14:50)
5. Parenting Styles That Enable Peter Pan Syndrome (00:18:50)
6. Childhood Trauma and the Fear of Growing Up (00:21:00)
7. Freedom vs. Responsibility: The Peter Pan Trap (00:29:10)
8. Why Men Struggle With Commitment (00:36:30)
9. Living Out of Alignment: Integrity and Values (00:42:00)
10. How to Break the Pattern and Grow Up (00:46:40)
11. Final Reflections on Change and Self-Trust (00:57:10)
12. Conclusion & Outro (01:00:49)
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