People pleasing doesn’t usually feel like a problem at first. It feels like being helpful, generous, and kind. Being easy to be around. Being the one who keeps everything running smoothly.

But over time, it can lead to anxiety, resentment, burnout, and a loss of self.

In this episode of No Alcohol Needed, Julie Miller, Steve Knapp, Mike Coyne, and Amber Fenner unpack how people pleasing actually works, why so many people don’t recognize it in themselves, and what starts to change when you stop organizing your life around other people’s emotions.

This conversation is especially relatable for people who’ve started questioning their relationship with alcohol, but it’s not limited to that. Anyone who feels responsible for keeping everyone else comfortable will recognize themselves here.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• How people pleasing often starts as a survival skill
• Why it creates anxiety, resentment, and emotional exhaustion
• The connection between people pleasing, perfectionism, and over-apologizing
• Why saying no can feel so threatening
• What changes when you stop living for approval
• How relationships shift when you begin choosing yourself

At No Alcohol Needed (formerly Through the Glass Recovery Podcast) we’re hanging out at the intersection of emotional wellness, personal growth, and living an alcohol-free life.

We talk about emotional intelligence, self-worth, sobriety, and how to build a life you don’t wish you could escape from.

Learn more about the podcast and the work we do: https://noalcoholneeded.net

--CHECK OUT OUR OTHER RESOURCES--

Free weekly gathering on Zoom Real conversations about more than just not drinking. https://noalcoholneeded.net/meeting-faqs/

Julie’s writing on sober living and emotional growth: https://createalifesofull.com