Lois | Midlife Therapist

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High achieving? Or just over-functioning?

Your "competence" is actually a cry for help.

For Gen X women, "getting it done" has been our survival strategy since we were latchkey kids. We were taught that being low-maintenance and high-achieving was the goal. But 30 years later, that "competence" has turned into a prison of over-functioning.

Over-functioning isn't a personality trait. It’s a boundary issue.

It’s what happens when you:

• Fix problems before anyone else even notices them.

• Carry the emotional "to-do" list for your entire household.

• Feel a physical spike of anxiety when someone else is "doing it wrong."

You are not a machine built for efficiency; you are a woman who deserves to be held, heard, and helped.

Resilience isn't about how much you can handle. It’s about how much you’re willing to let go of.

Are you ready to trade the "Superwoman" cape for some actual peace? 🕊️

#GenXWomen #Overfunctioning #MidlifeAwakening #BoundarySetting #peoplepleasing

3/3 Edited to

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The first image introduces the topic: 'THINGS THAT FEEL LIKE PERSONALITY TRAITS but are actually trauma responses,' with the text 'it's not just 'who you are'' and the @KAYLAN.TALKSHOPTHERAPY handle.

The second image discusses 'Always being the peacemaker,' explaining it's a trauma response from feeling conflict was dangerous, not just being easygoing. It's labeled '01' with a 'swipe' indicator.

The third image addresses 'Needing to be useful to feel worthy,' clarifying it's a learned behavior where love had to be earned, not just liking to help. It's labeled '02' with a 'swipe' indicator.

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