Do you feel that pull the second someone you love starts to hurt?
That urge to jump in, say the right thing, fix it, make it stop before they've even finished the sentence. It usually means you have a lot of empathy. But over time it can wear you out.
Someone you love who's struggling and you feel like you have to be the one to make it okay. So you jump in. You fix. You carry it. And then... they don't seem grateful. Or they push back on your help. Or you're just left exhausted, wondering why supporting the people you love costs you so much.
You're not too sensitive. You're not doing it wrong. But there's a difference between empathy and enmeshment and many of us were never taught where that line is.
In this episode, I walk through:
Why some of us feel an almost physical pull to fix other people's pain (and where that pattern actually started)Why "helping" can backfire even when your intentions are completely goodWhat people in pain actually need from you (hint: it's usually not a solution)How to protect yourself from taking on their stuffYou'll walk away with one simple practice you can start using right away. No more losing yourself when you want to help someone who feels bad.
🎧 Available wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. New episodes drop every Wednesday.
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This information is for educational purposes only. For medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment please talk to your health care practitioner about your specific health needs.