Complex with Kimberley Wilson Are you a people pleaser?
Dec 3, 2025
Dr. Sarah Vohra, a consultant psychiatrist specializing in child and adolescent psychiatry, dives into the world of people-pleasing. She explains its signs, from saying yes when you mean no to emotional exhaustion. The conversation explores how childhood conditioning and cultural influences fuel these behaviors. They discuss the spectrum of people-pleasing from mild agreeableness to harmful extremes. Sarah shares practical steps to build self-assertiveness and outlines how fear of conflict drives these tendencies. A thought-provoking look at mental health!
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Hen Party Example Of Compromised Boundaries
- Lila went to a hen weekend despite low funds and dislike of loud bars and felt upset afterwards.
- She agreed to further events to avoid offending the bride and left feeling compromised and exhausted.
People Pleasing Is Sometimes Helpful
- Sarah Vohra says people pleasing can sometimes be useful and reduce conflict in small decisions.
- It becomes problematic when it sacrifices your mental well-being or identity.
Emotional Aftermath Reveals Harm
- Regularly saying yes when you mean no and spreading yourself too thin are key indicators of problematic people pleasing.
- Feeling wrung out or anxious afterward signals it's harming you rather than being merely polite.