If you’ve ever thought, “Why do I always care more?”—this episode is for you. Alissa Boyer unpacks the deep emotional pattern many highly sensitive people experience in friendships: the “I care more” wound. When you’re constantly overgiving, anticipating everyone’s needs, and doing the emotional heavy lifting, it can leave you feeling unseen and burned out. This episode helps you uncover why that dynamic keeps repeating—and how to shift out of it so you can create friendships that feel mutual, supportive, and deeply fulfilling.

What you’ll learn:

The root of the “I care more” wound that many HSPs carry
Why you might give too much in friendships—and how to stop
How to tell the difference between genuine care and giving from insecurity
What happens when your empathy lacks boundaries
How past family dynamics shape your friendships today
Why being overly responsible in relationships doesn’t make you more lovable
How to expand your identity beyond the “helper” or “fixer”
What it looks like to give from a place of security vs. fear
How to take empowered ownership of your friendship patterns
What it really means to be authentic and emotionally available as an HSP

Questions Answered in This Episode:

Why do I always feel like I’m doing more than others in friendships?
What’s the difference between healthy empathy and self-abandonment?
How do I stop overgiving without feeling guilty or selfish?
Why am I afraid people will leave if I stop being “the one who does everything”?
How do I create friendships that feel more mutual and emotionally safe?
What role do past wounds play in my current relationship patterns?
Can I still be kind without constantly bending over backwards?
How do I set boundaries without shutting people out?
How can I be more myself in friendships and still feel loved?
What kind of friendships am I a match for when I stop overgiving?

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The Sensitive & Soulful Show is managed by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Moms Who Podcast

197. Overgiving In Friendships? It's Tim...