Have you ever felt pressure to keep the peace and ended up saying “yes” when a big part of you wanted to say “no”? In this episode, we unpack people pleasing – and, at its extreme, fawning – an often misunderstood coping response rooted in survival. We’re joined by Lia Love Avellino, LCSW, director of head and heart at The Well, to explore how boundaries, emotional health, and lived experience intersect. Lia helps us recognize the physical cues that signal self-abandonment – like a tight chest, knotted stomach, or shaky voice – and offers tools to pause, check in with the body, and name what you truly need. Because boundaries aren’t barriers; they’re meeting places that make more honest, authentic connection possible.

<p>Have you ever felt pressure to keep the peace and ended up saying &ldquo;yes&rdquo; when a big part of you wanted to say &ldquo;no&rdquo;? In this episode, we unpack <a href="https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/what-is-a-people-pleaser">people pleasing</a> &ndash; and, at its extreme, <a href="https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/what-does-fight-flight-freeze-fawn-mean">fawning</a> &ndash; an often misunderstood coping response rooted in survival. We&rsquo;re joined by <a href="https://www.lialoveavellino.com/about">Lia Love Avellino, LCSW</a>, director of head and heart at The Well, to explore how boundaries, emotional health, and lived experience intersect. Lia helps us recognize the physical cues that signal self-abandonment &ndash; like a tight chest, knotted stomach, or shaky voice &ndash; and offers tools to pause, check in with the body, and name what you truly need. Because boundaries aren&rsquo;t barriers; they&rsquo;re meeting places that make more honest, authentic connection possible.</p>

WebMD Chief Physician Editor Neha Pathak, MD, and Chief Medical Officer, John Whyte, MD, MPH, explore fascinating stories to find the unexpected things that help us understand our health.

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