This post is for anyone who feels a spike of anxiety at the idea that someone might be disappointed in them—and who has learned that the safest way to move through life is to stay agreeable. If you’re skilled at reading the room, anticipating expectations, and shape-shifting to avoid conflict, you’re not “too sensitive.” You’re using a strategy that likely once protected you.

In this piece, we’ll name what’s really happening when other people’s judgments feel so heavy, why this pattern can leave you with an unsteady sense of self, and how to begin separating who you are from how you’re perceived. It’s a starting point for reclaiming your own preferences, needs, and reality—so your life can feel more steady, more authentic, and more yours.

Discover how an NYC eating disorder therapist helps clients move beyond food rules and diet culture to build a joyful, sustainable relationship with eating. Learn how intuitive eating coaching and meal support can bring connection, culture, and pleasure back to the table.

Why Holding Onto Fat Might be an Evolutionary Strategy—And Why Weight Bias is Rooted in Social Injustice

Why interoceptive awareness is essential for eating disorder recovery and essential and ways to rebuild this skill.

Find new narratives to challenge critical thoughts about our bodies and harmful judgements on food.