64. Am I a 'Rescuer' in my relationships?

Welcome to another episode of The Good Mood Clinic Podcast!

In this episode we discuss a really interesting pattern that many people find themselves in when we're in this role. It can be really torturous and painful and we don't think clearly at all. It's a pattern that's played out mostly in romantic relationships and is almost always a replication of the past. 

What does it mean to be a rescuer in relationships and why are some people really prone to fall into this pattern.  Well Justine thought she was having just another uneventful evening at the movies, but little did she know the content of the film would propel her back to a turbulent relationship she had in her 20's.  For 6 years Justine was stuck in a cycle of wanting and needing to rescue her then boyfriend.  If only she knew then what she knows now.

In this episode we explore the tendency to hang in there way too long with a partner who is emotionally unavailable - someone you feel needs your help, someone you need to fix or rescue.  Why is this such a strong urge and what schemas underpin this dynamic?