@Anne2.0 - conflict terrifies me and I shut down immediately.

Even now, at the age of 44, I can’t handle any kind of arguing. My mom and her husband live with me. They argue a lot. Every time I come into the basement and I’m scared. I bury myself under my covers and just wait for it to be over. Growing up my parents never argued in front of us kids (to their credit) but I was abused and my parents never showed love to each other or us kids.

I can’t even begin to describe the feelings that come over me when two people start to argue. This might be some good fodder for therapy.