For much of my life, I believed being agreeable was the only way to stay safe growing up with a narcissistic parent. From as early as three or four, I learned to anticipate others’ needs, managing volatile moods. I became, in many ways, a parent to my own parents, & raised my siblings. On the outside, I looked dependable and mature; inside, I was exhausted , surviving by becoming a compulsive people-pleaser. The turning point came when I saw that what once protected me was now holding me back. Healthy love felt unsafe, my marriage unraveled, and I realized people-pleasing was not a habit but a survival strategy. Through trauma-informed self-care, somatic practices, and attachment theory, I began reclaiming my voice, my needs, and my safety. The biggest shift: I don’t have to earn love by giving myself away. By honoring my needs, I’ve built deeper connections through authenticity. If you feel trapped by people-pleasing, know you’re not alone—healing is possible.