Could Your Own Birth Be Fueling Your Tokophobia?

Are you ready to go deeper into the real reasons behind tokophobia?

In this honest and eye-opening episode, Alexia and JJ confront one of the most overlooked (and misunderstood) realities for those living with a fear of pregnancy and birth: the trauma of your own birth. Forget everything you’ve been told about where anxiety “comes from”— because this one starts sooner, and runs deeper, than most of us ever realise.

Whether you know your own birth story or not, this episode unpacks why the experience of being born is often the hidden driver behind lifelong tokophobia — shaping everything from mental health to relationships, even before our conscious memories form.

Key discussion points:

• Why the majority of tokophobia cases stem from trauma experienced during your birth — not just the trauma of giving birth as an adult

• JJ’s powerful recollection of learning her own birth story, and the long shadow it cast over her life, creativity, and pregnancy experiences

• Alexia’s personal process of healing birth trauma — without knowing the details of her own birth — and how it was a turning point in overcoming tokophobia

• Making sense of tokophobia symptoms: feeling trapped, out of control, fear of not being “ready”, and why they’re so often rooted in the original birth experience

• How birth trauma impacts not just pregnancy, but identity, relationships, and mental health far beyond childhood

• Breaking the silence: why therapists, health professionals, and all of us need to look beyond childhood to understand reproductive anxiety

• The urgent call to reframe how we talk about birth trauma — so we stop conflating the experience of “giving birth” with “being born”

• Tangible hope: how healing the root of your fear (even if you don’t know your story) can transform your outlook and open up choice

This episode is for you if:

• You’re struggling with an intense, sometimes inexplicable fear of pregnancy or childbirth — even if no one else seems to “get it”

• You’ve felt dismissed by professionals who only look at childhood or adult traumas, and never consider what happened when you were born

• You’re feeling stuck, trapped, or out of control — not just about pregnancy, but in other parts of your life too

• You want to better understand yourself, break long-standing anxiety patterns, or make peace with your reproductive future

• You’re seeking practical hope, real-life experience, and validation that you’re not broken — and there is a way forward

If you’re craving a gentle but fiercely honest look at trauma, healing, and the true origins of tokophobia, this episode is your signpost. Step inside. You are welcome here.

---

Want more depth?

Explore the white papers, “Fear Sells (But It Doesn’t Serve)” and “The Case for Reproductive Anxiety Disorder,” or check out the RAD Responsible™ initiative for trauma-aware insights and support.

Find resources and join the community at tiktokophobia.com.