You're Not Broken, You Were Parentified: Here's Why

Have you always been “the strong one,” the responsible one, or the one everyone depends on—yet feel exhausted, anxious, or guilty when you rest? This episode is for you. In this conversation, we unpack parentification trauma and how growing up too fast can quietly shape your adult health, relationships, and sense of self-worth. By the end of this episode, you’ll understand why you feel the way you do—and what healing can actually look like.

🔥 In This Episode:
We walk through a real-life case study of an adult woman who carried adult responsibilities as a child and now lives with chronic stress, anxiety, migraines, and difficulty setting boundaries. You’ll learn how childhood emotional overload becomes adult burnout, why productivity often gets tied to self-worth, and how trauma can show up physically in the body. Most importantly, you’ll hear how healing begins—without shame, guilt, or self-blame.

✨ What You’ll Gain from This Episode:
✅ Learn how to identify parentification trauma and recognize its impact on your mental and physical health
✅ Understand why rest feels uncomfortable and why saying “no” brings guilt
✅ Discover practical, therapist-backed tools that help you reconnect with yourself
✅ Gain clarity on how healing yourself creates healthier relationships and generational change

💡 You are not broken—and you were never meant to carry everything alone. This episode will help you shift from survival mode to intentional healing, giving you language, validation, and a path forward. If you are ready to release burnout, set boundaries without guilt, and finally prioritize your well-being, this conversation will meet you right where you are.

🎧 Listen now:
Youtube: https://youtu.be/htNlsk4W6uU 
Podcast Apps: https://themelanininitiativespodcast.buzzsprout.com 

💬 Drop a comment and let us know your biggest takeaway!

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Check out our Mental Health Playlist! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjAhA57LVOQ&list=PL-gEmMXD5N0QJaxP6m8vDU-QyOLEGRHen

Resources Mentioned:
EMDR Therapy: https://www.emdria.org
Internal Family Systems / Parts Work: https://ifs-institute.com

Financial Assistance for Therapy:
The Loveland Foundation: https://thelovelandfoundation.org/
Sad Girls Club: https://sadgirlsclub.org/
Black Girls Smile Inc.: https://www.blackgirlssmile.org/therapy-scholarship

Books:
https://www.amazon.com/Adult-Children-Emotionally-Immature-Parents/dp/1626251703
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Mother+Hunger&i=stripbooks&crid=12L98IHT6JRNJ&sprefix=mother+hunger%2Cstripbooks%2C97&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

Connect with Kelsey Wilson, LCSW:
Email: Therapy@kelseywpllc.com
Call: 703-261-9884
Website: Kelseywpllc.com 
healapsychotherapy.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/healapsychotherapy/


VIDEO CHAPTERS:
00:02:34 – Introducing Guest Kelsey Wilson, LCSW  
00:03:48 – Icebreaker: Five Questions in Five Minutes  
00:04:00 – Starting a Business: Lessons and Resources for Therapists  
00:07:31 – Case Study: Luna and the Burden of the “Strong One”  
00:08:42 – Trauma in the Body: Linking Migraines to Emotional Overload  
00:09:30 – What Is Parentification Trauma?  
00:10:07 – Deconstructing the “Old Soul” Identity  
00:37:37 – The Value of Cr

Stay Connected with The Melanin Initiative Podcast:

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