Are You Mad at Me? How to Calm People‑Pleasing Anxiety | Meg Josephson | Happiness | E465

Love, Happiness and Success with Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby

YAP Media Network | Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby

Relationships, Society & Culture, Health & Fitness, Mental Health

4.7 • 890 Ratings

🗓️ 18 August 2025

⏱️ 53 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Have you ever stared at your phone, rereading a text that ended with a period and spiraled into, “Oh no… are they mad at me?” Or maybe someone didn’t heart your Instagram story, and suddenly your nervous system is in full red alert mode. If so, you’re not alone. And you’re definitely not broken. I’m joined by psychotherapist and author Meg Josephson to talk about the fawn response, a lesser-known trauma response that shows up as people-pleasing, overthinking, and needing to manage how others feel about you. We’re digging into where this comes from, why it’s so common (especially if you grew up walking on eggshells), and how to start untangling yourself from it. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 What Is Relational Hypervigilance? 02:22 Meg Josephson’s Journey With People-Pleasing 10:37 Understanding Complex Trauma and Emotional Safety 17:05 What Is the Fawn Response? 23:23 How Hypervigilance Disconnects You From Yourself 31:15 How People-Pleasing Impacts Boundaries 36:27 Why “Negative” Emotions Like Resentment Matter 41:11 Reassurance vs. Emotional Validation 46:07 Letting Go of Control and Reclaiming Your Energy 49:37 Healing Through Self-Awareness and Discomfort 51:13 Where to Find Meg Josephson’s Work If you’ve ever wondered, “Why do I always feel like I’m in trouble?” or “Why is it so hard to set boundaries without guilt?” – this episode will help you understand what’s really going on beneath those feelings and what healing can actually look like. Ready to stop twisting yourself into knots trying to keep everyone else happy? My Clarity & Confidence Coaching Program can help you reconnect with you – your voice, your boundaries, your sense of calm. If you’re done second-guessing and ready to start showing up authentically, this is your next step. 🌱 Let’s stay connected! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for free resources and updates on new episodes of Love, Happiness & Success. Together, we’re building healthier, happier relationships – one conversation at a time. xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby Growing Self P.S. Meg’s book “Are You Mad at Me?” comes out August 5th – and it is SO GOOD! You can also follow her on Instagram and TikTok. Check out her Substack, Peace of Mind. Highly recommend.

Transcript

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0:00.0	We are harmed in relationships and we are healed in relationships.
0:07.0	It's not necessarily always about the event, but rather how the body processes the event.
0:15.0	So raise your hand. If you've ever worried that somebody was mad at you because they ended a text with a period.
0:25.8	Yeah.
0:26.3	I have been there too.
0:27.6	I have all the T-shirts.
0:28.7	There is a way out of this reactivity that starts with awareness.
0:34.0	And that's why we're here with our guest today, psychotherapist and, shall I say, just viral
0:40.7	sensation, Meg Josephson, who's here to help us just unpack all of this, understand why we feel
0:47.7	this way, where it comes from, and more importantly, what to do about it.
0:53.8	Meg, I just, I could not be happier to talk to you today.
0:57.7	I'm like so excited about this conversation, not that it's going to turn into my own
1:01.6	therapy session, you know, like we were not going to do that.
1:04.2	We can.
1:05.0	This is a topic.
1:06.1	I mean, yeah, so I'm excited.
1:09.3	Thank you so much for having me.
1:10.9	I'm really happy to hear.
1:12.3	Oh, thank you.
1:13.3	Well, first of all, congratulations on the book and on this body of work that you're compiling.
1:21.1	And maybe we should just start with an intro.
1:23.5	I mean, telling our, I'm your number one fan, but just in case they might not have heard of you already.
	...

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