31. Too Empathetic to Function - Compassion Fatigue, Emotional Contagion and Empath Boundaries

Ever felt like you care so deeply about everyone around you that you've completely lost track of what you actually feel yourself?Yeah. Us too.In this episode of Too Much Apparently, we (Carly and Alice, two therapists and recovering perfectionists with squishy brains) get real about empathy, emotional contagion and compassion fatigue. Why being the one everyone comes to feels like an identity, why caring so much can quietly burn you out, and what the difference actually is between feeling with someone and drowning alongside them.We unpack our own resistance, spiral in real-time, and get into the uncomfortable truth that being endlessly empathetic isn't always as altruistic as it feels.This time we talked about:🎙️ We've felt this thing too (and we still do): Being the therapist friend as a teenager, absorbing emotions in the therapy room, and realising we were caring for others to avoid looking after ourselves👀 What it looks like in real life: Taking on everyone's feelings as your own, not being able to feel okay unless everyone else is okay, and ending up with everyone else's balloons🧠 Why our brains do it: Trauma histories that made hypervigilance a survival strategy, parentification, and an identity built around being the one who always shows up🧍🏽‍♀️🧍🏻 The different ways it shows up: Emotional exhaustion, resentment in relationships, rescuing people who didn't ask to be rescued, and compassion fatigue you feel guilty for admitting🧰 Coping mechanisms: The balloon and boulder metaphors, learning to hand feelings back without losing the empathy, and saying not now instead of yes when your capacity is low🌱 How to make peace with it: Caring doesn't have to mean carrying everything, and empathy with boundaries is still empathy.Thanks for listening           💛💜🩷🩵🧡💬 New episodes every Monday.🎧 Follow now to join the conversation.🧡 CONNECT WITH US 🎙️ Podcast socials: → Instagram: @toomuchapparently → TikTok: @toomuchapparently → YouTube: Too Much, Apparently → Website: www.toomuchapparently.com👩‍💻 Carly Radford: → Website: www.carlyradford.com → Instagram: @the_sensitivity_therapist👩🏻‍💻 Alice Tew: → Website: www.alicetew.com → Instagram: @reparentingwithalice📩 Email us: [email protected] 🗓️ New episodes every MondayThis is a podcast that says: bring your too-muchness… we’re here for it.Disclaimer: Just a quick note to say this podcast isn’t therapy, and it’s not a substitute for professional support. We’re here to share ideas and experiences, but if you’re struggling, please reach out to a mental health professional or a support service near you.