The Cost of Keeping the Peace: When Your Body Bears the Burden

You’ve been told you're a people pleaser—but what if you’re actually a peacekeeper? In this episode of Healthy Skeptics, Dr. Michele and Kate call B.S. on the idea that staying quiet and keeping the peace is just part of being a “good woman.” Because guess what? Constantly avoiding conflict and swallowing your needs isn’t noble—it’s exhausting.

This episode exposes the toll that peacekeeping takes on your body, your health, and your sense of self. It’s time to stop confusing silence with strength. If you're ready to break the cycle and speak up—for your health, your relationships, and your future—hit play now.

Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode:

• 1. Peacekeeping isn’t the same as people pleasing. One seeks approval— the other avoids conflict. And that constant avoidance can quietly drain your energy and well-being.

• 2. Your nervous system registers suppression as a threat. Staying silent, swallowing your needs, and pretending everything’s fine keeps your body in a state of chronic stress—even if you think you're being “calm.”

• 3. Avoidance doesn’t make things go away—it makes them grow. What we push down often shows up in other ways: anxiety, exhaustion, gut issues, resentment, even hormonal imbalances.

• 4. Social norms train women to peacekeep. Many of us learned early on that our role was to be easygoing, agreeable, and “low maintenance”—but it’s time to unlearn that.

• 5. Healing starts with awareness. The first step is noticing where you’ve been quiet just to keep things comfortable, and then slowly creating space to express, feel, and reconnect with what you need.

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Visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.she-health.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and watch for our book release this summer!

Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you heard on this podcast. Reliance on any information provided is solely at your own risk