The Light On Demand

The Best of You - Episode 154: The Cost of Denying Your Own Needs—When Emotional Exhaustion Tells a Deeper Story

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If you’ve ever felt emotionally exhausted—even while doing all the “right” things—this episode is for you.

I’m sharing a personal story and unpacking something I see in so many women I work with: the quiet, often unnoticed pattern of denying your own needs in the name of being kind, helpful, or faithful.

We’ll talk about how these patterns take root, how faith communities can unknowingly reinforce them, and why that emotional exhaustion you’re feeling might be trying to tell you something important.

In this episode, I explore:

* How codependency hides behind helping & overfunctioning

* How the fawn response might be showing up in your life

* The impact of church messages that tell us to "die to ourselves" without teaching us how to live

* What healthy dependence looks like

* Why your locus of control—internal vs. external—matters more than you think


Have a question for Dr. Alison? Leave it here.

Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here.

If you enjoyed this episode, you'll love:

  • Episode 5: What is Codependency and Why Does it Matter?
  • Episode 14: The Fawn Response & The Hidden Root of People Pleasing

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      • Editing by Giulia Hjort

      Music by Andy Luiten

      Sound editing by Kelly Kramarik

      While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.

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