#326 How People Pleasing Makes Breakups Harder with Dr. Paula Friedman Diamond
In today’s expert episode, I’m interviewing Dr. Paula Freedman Diamond, a licensed clinical psychologist, speaker, and author of the new book “Toxic Striving: Escaping the Stress and Burnout of Hustle and Diet Culture.” We talk about the many faces of people pleasing and perfectionism, how these patterns show up in dating and relationships, and how suppressing your own needs can eventually lead to relationship breakdowns or unhealthy dynamics. Dr. Paula shares both her personal experiences and practical therapeutic insights on building real intimacy, navigating conflict, and coping with heartbreak when you’ve always tried to be the “perfect” partner. We also discuss controlling the narrative after a breakup, learning to sit with uncomfortable feelings instead of rushing to fix them, and how embracing your needs and authenticity is key to healing from heartbreak. If you struggle with people pleasing, overthinking, or feeling like you have to do it all, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to stay stuck in these cycles.