Episode 155: Sex Trafficking: When Helping Breaks You

Not all trauma comes from direct experience. Sometimes, it builds slowly from holding space for others, from advocacy, from caring so deeply it drains you. In this honest and eye-opening episode, Lyndsay Soprano sits down with Elizabeth Gaines to unpack the emotional toll of showing up for survivors—while trying to stay afloat.

Elizabeth opens up about her work in the nonprofit space, the burnout that followed, and how functional diagnostic testing helped her uncover the hidden stressors wreaking havoc on her health. Together, they talk about the blind spots in conventional medicine, the necessity of rest, and why survivors and supporters alike deserve agency in their healing.

This conversation is a reminder that being strong doesn’t mean being self-sacrificing. That healing requires boundaries, support, and the courage to choose yourself, even when you’re used to choosing everyone else.

Tune in if you’ve ever felt stretched thin by caring too much, and are ready to reclaim your energy—without guilt.