Healing Childhood Trauma Is it Empathy or Co-Dependency? [Ep 38]
Oct 8, 2025
Explore the intriguing distinction between being an empath and codependent, revealing insights that could change your perspective. Learn how childhood trauma shapes emotional responses and why understanding these patterns is crucial for healing. Discover the pitfalls of codependent overgiving and its effects on mental well-being. Gain practical tools like journal prompts to reconnect with your own needs and emotions. This discussion unpacks the nuances of sensitivity, boundary-setting, and the importance of self-identity in the healing journey.
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Empathy Versus Taking On Feelings
- Empathy means feeling with someone while preserving your own emotional boundaries.
- Codependency means feeling someone else's feelings as if they were your own and losing separation.
‘Me Too’ Responses Undermine Empathy
- Lysandra describes people who respond with 'me too' stories or fix attempts instead of holding space.
- She contrasts that with empathic listeners who sit with discomfort without making it about themselves.
Holding Space vs Fixing
- Holding space means staying present without fixing or shifting focus to yourself.
- Codependent responses jump to solutions or 'me too' stories and remove the other's autonomy.