Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life Podcast The Rescuer Trap: Doormat or a Hand Grenade: When Rescuing Behavior Gets Overcorrected
Nov 19, 2025
Explore the intriguing concept of the 'Rescuer Trap' where over-giving can lead to emotional burnout. Discover the perils of maladaptive overcorrection and how to strike a balance between independence and healthy interdependence. Learn about the impact of avoiding relationships after trauma and how it exacerbates anxiety. Gain insights on setting boundaries not as rules for others but as self-guides. Finally, understand the importance of community in Stoic philosophy and how it leads to a more meaningful life.
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The Pendulum Of Overcorrection
- Overcorrection swaps one imbalance for another instead of solving the root problem.
- Becoming a 'lone wolf' after rescuing creates a different unhealthy extreme.
PTSD Movie Example: Rootless Father
- Kasey Pierce recalls a movie (Leave No Trace) about a veteran with PTSD who keeps moving and destabilizes his daughter's life.
- The example illustrates how avoidance and hyper-control can harm relationships over time.
Map The Circle Of Control
- Diagram situations and sort components into what you can control, influence, and not control.
- Focus action on what you can control to avoid unsustainable attempts to control others.