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Everything about Good Girl Syndrome : Symptoms and Tips!

The term "good girl syndrome" describes the pressure that people, frequently women, feel to live up to social expectations, prioritize other people's needs above their own, fear rejection, find it difficult to set limits, and feel guilty. For better health and behaviour patterns, seeking support is essential.

Good Girl Syndrome: Symptoms and Tips to Overcome!


Before determining whether you exhibit traits of the “good girl syndrome,” let’s first understand what this syndrome entails.

The term “Good Girl Syndrome” is not a recognized one in psychology or medicine. It may, however, refer to a slang term when people, frequently women or girls, feel pressure to live up to social norms of being well-mannered, courteous, obedient, and accommodating. Family, friends, peers, cultural standards, and media depictions can all put pressure on people.

For fear of disappointing others or drawing rebuke, those who suffer from the “Good Girl Syndrome” may find it difficult to communicate their own desires, set boundaries, or assert themselves. This may result in a pattern of putting others’ needs ahead of one’s own, which may cause stress, burnout, and the inability to put one’s own needs first.

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It’s crucial to understand that societal norms and gender roles can have diverse effects on people and that these challenges may require developing self-assurance, acquiring assertive communication skills, and setting up appropriate limits. It can be helpful to get support from a mental health professional or counsellor if you or someone you know is dealing with these problems.

Arouba Kabir, mental health counsellor, wellness coach and founder, of Enso Wellness talked to Hindustan Times about ‘good girl syndrome’.

She says People’s perceptions of idealistic women, whether they hold them in themselves or the women around them, “are a concern or cause for emotional and mental health issues such as anxiety, low self-esteem, people-pleasing behaviour, and many other mental health disorders such as borderline personality disorder, etc,” according to the study.

She said, “Sufferers of good girl syndrome frequently struggle to say no, accept who they are, or set personal boundaries, despite the fact that these are all qualities that they should have. These people generally do a terrible job of controlling their stress. What quality do people regard so highly? It affects a person’s achievement in school, their relationships, their decisions, and other facets of their existence.

Here are some potential signs of good girl syndrome! 

People-Pleasing Behavior: 

A tendency to put other people’s needs and wants before their own, frequently at the expense of their well-being or objectives for themselves.

Fear of rejection:

The constant fear that someone will judge or disapprove of you might make you avoid disagreements, arguments, and decisions—even basic ones like what to eat or wear. Even when people are dissatisfied with a situation, this fear may prevent them from speaking up or expressing their opposition.

Difficulty Saying No:

Struggling to say no to requests or favours, even being overburdened or having other obligations.

Perfectionism:

Setting unreasonably high standards for oneself, striving for perfection in all areas of life, and being upset when one is unable to live up to them. As a result, many people experience mental health issues like OCD.

Rescue behaviour: 

Women who have these traits frequently act as caregivers, rescuers, or fixers in relationships. This may have an impact on their decision-making, causing them to form both caring and fundamentally unsuitable relationships.

Experiencing guilt: 

When putting their own needs first or prioritizing their own care. Frequently apologizing to prevent disagreement or upsetting people, even when they haven’t done anything wrong.

It is crucial to remember that anyone, regardless of gender, might experience these symptoms. Seeking support from friends, family, or a mental health professional can be helpful in helping someone who is struggling with these behaviours and thinks that it is affecting their well-being to establish healthy patterns of behaviour and thought.Self-awareness, self-esteem, right limits, and learning to put one’s own needs and wants above those of others are frequently necessary to overcome this syndrome. 

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Shriya Gupta

Journalist, Talks about Politics, Culture and International Affairs. Love to see things through the lenses. Short Films and Documentries make me More excited.
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