Caretaking Pattern

Behavior/Attitude

You may care for others rather than yourself

You may try to make others happy. Their well-being may come before your own.

You may be invested in being a helper

It may be hard for you to say No to requests for help

You may be drawn to people who need help. You try to be savior of troubled people.

You may avoid doing anything that may make others feel uncomfortable and feel guilty if you do

You may try to keep peace between others. You may be a placater, a go-between.

You may feel responsible for other people’s feelings and well-being.

You may be friendly and nice to everyone.

You may be codependent. You keep giving money or help to someone even when it is clear that they will only use what you give to keep their addiction going.

You may take on other people’s feelings as a way to help them.

If someone is upset, you may assume it is your fault and you must fix it.

Organizational

You may feel responsible for any group or organization that you are in

You may end up taking on too many tasks. People may keep asking you to do more because they know you will say Yes.

Societal

You may feel responsible for solving the world’s problems

You may feel guilty for not doing enough for the world or for people in need or oppressed people

Motivation

You may feel guilty if you don’t do everything you can to help others.

You may attempt to have connections with people by taking care of them.

You may hope that people you take care of will give back to you. That way you can get caring without acknowledging your needs.

You may want to take away other people’s pain so you don’t have to feel yours

You may have a self-image as caring person. This is a way to feel good about yourself.

You may hope that if you take care of people, they will like you.

You may hope that by taking care of someone, they won’t reject you or leave you.

Taking care of people may be a way to feel needed and therefore valued.