Grab my FREE Guide “Finally at Peace” and start breaking free from survival mode: https://janice-holland.kit.com/finallyatpeace

You might not think of yourself as having an addiction… but if your nervous system lights up every time someone approves of you, and crashes every time you imagine disappointing someone— you’re hooked.

In this powerful episode, Janice Holland (Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor, Certified Trauma Model Therapist, and host of The Trauma Teacher) breaks down how people-pleasing activates the same reward pathways in your brain as drugs or alcohol—keeping you stuck in a cycle of survival mode, exhaustion, and disconnection from your real self.

You’ll learn the hidden emotional and physical costs of chronic people-pleasing and how to start breaking the cycle gently with small, doable steps—without dropping all the balls or blowing up your life ___________________________________________________________________Ready to go Deeper?

Join the Courageous Living Membership: https://janiceholland.thrivecart.com/the-courageous-living-no-bs-membership/

Join the 60 Day Reset Group: https://janiceholland.thrivecart.com/cl-group-transformation/

Work with me 1:1: https://janiceholland.thrivecart.com/thecourageouslivingjourney/

Not sure which one to pick?

Take the quiz: https://form.typeform.com/to/YFxykSjU ___________________________________________________________________⏱ Chapter Timestamps

00:48 – Hook: What If You’re Addicted to Approval?

01:19 – The Dopamine Loop 

02:19 – Signs You’re Stuck in the Cycle Over-apologizing, over-functioning, exhaustion, and resentment.

03:05 – The Body Cost How chronic people-pleasing erodes your nervous system and health.

03:35 – The Identity Cost How performing disconnects you from your real self and leaves you lonely.

04:07 – Why It Feels Impossible to Stop Your nervous system panics when you rest—and how that’s not weakness.

09:44 – How to Start Loosening the Pattern Micro-shifts to gently retrain your nervous system without dropping all the balls.

14:26 – The Ripple Effect on Others How over-functioning enables dysfunction and blocks growth in others.

16:20 – What’s Next Breaking cycles of performative living + how to go deeper with Janice.

Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.trauma.teacher