5 Signs You Have the Rescuer Personality Type

You might’ve heard of the rescuer personality type under a different name: the White Knights or the Fixers. When someone has the need for help, do you subconsciously want to be just like a superhero, ready to save the day? Having the Rescuer Personality Type can hurt you in a lot of ways. You have a hard time taking care of yourself and prioritize your own needs, which can lead to emotional burnout and exhaustion. Not only that, the strong desire to save and fix others, even at the expense of your own needs, can also lead you to let others treat you like a doormat and exploiting you. Incase, you're wondering if you might have the rescuer personality, see if you relate to some of the signs in this video?

Writer: Michael Richie
Script Editor: Isadora Ho
Script Manager: Kelly Soong
VO: Amanda Silvera
Animator: Minh Nguyen
YouTube Manager: Cindy Cheong

References

Lamia, Mary C. “White Knight Commonalities.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 21 May 2009,

[Psychgo]

Are you guilty of some of these signs? Raise your hand. :/

[jasminebaar]

You'll never stop calling me out.

[sauce]

Yeah, sounds sort of like me. My only idea for the future kind of involves rescuing people.

[NenaLavonne]

This was a pattern that I exhibited throughout my life that took many years to finally put in a healthy perspective. It is important to help others, but we must first help ourselves. ♥️

[QuestionEverythingButWHY]

“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection”
― Sharon Salzberg

[Baita]

Gonna be 100% feel incredibly called out

[QuestionEverythingButWHY]

“If you can’t love yourself, how in the hell are you gonna love somebody else?”
– Ru Paul

[dailydoseofmedicinee]

Rescuers are seldom aware of their underlying motivations and genuinely believe their interventions are for the better. They are often in a very senior executive position to those they are purporting to help.👍

[CrFouquet]

Yup, I'm actually in a not so great way because of this. All I've tried for a long time as well as recently, have all left or ghost me currently. I truly feel like I messed up somewhere in my life to be alone with everything and everyone I've ever worked and truly care for, completely leave my life. Only thing I have going for me, is that I refuse to give up. I will always love them, and anyone else. I will never surrendered that this world needs the love that spills so abundantly and freely from my heart. There is far to much negativity, if I have to be the only positive thing out there, I will do so. It should stick to something some day. Much love to this channel and all the people out there.

[tyobrien]

I think I have a rescuer personality but not around my family. I often have dreams of saving people

[peppa]

I can strongly relate to number 4. When one of my friends is sad, I'm also a bit sad, because I can't be happy when they aren't happy.

[taylorjo]

Damn, all these people have fingers like Lightning McQueen-

[kirathepotat]

"the rescuer personally type goes by a different name, 'The White Knight'"

Me: * _getting flashbacks from r/niceguys_ * ohno

[kimia]

I used to be like this. But I realized not necessarily everybody likes this much attention. It may even look irritating to them. They may think you’re butting in their life. Also, it may come off as insecure and turn them off. Also, there’s a lot of jerks who take advantage of you in various ways. Be your own hero. The best thing you can do for your loved ones is saving yourself first. Your crush will find you more attractive as well.

[charfree]

I'm all this except the "insisting to help" part. My anxiety would tackle me to the ground is I even think of bothering someone.

[Talkinglife]

You feel like everything must be micromanaged

Rescuers tend to overly focus on the decisions and choices that others are making, and will try to deter others from making the 'wrong' choice. This can often leave the other unable to make decisions for themselves.

[foxleapfan]

1 - You tend to put the needs of others before your own 0:46
2 - You base your self-worth on the ability to help people 1:16
3 - You find yourself insisting on helping even if it's not needed 1:45
4 - You have a tough time dealing with conflict 2:17
5 - You've been a "rescuer" from an early age 2:44

Thank you for reading! <3
I definitely _hate_ conflict, like can't we all just get along?? :")

[minervaloves]

I think I’m this way. To be honest, I prefer to help others to distract me from my own problems 😬

[brutefitness]

all of this was me. when my friends or my ex needs me I was always there but when i need someone to comfort me from my sadness i was always left alone

[DivingHawker]

As an excessive rescuer, conflict hurts a lot as, like you mentioned, self-worth tend to be based on your ability to help, and so, when conflict arises, you feel like you did the opposite of helping and your self-worth just goes down. Also, since you are now in conflict, you can't help the other like you used to because of the resentment that person has so it hurts even more. It takes a huge toll on your mental health to be honest.