Episode 10: The Burden of Being Reliable – Paperclips & Periods Podcast

In this episode, Dr. Emily K. Cabrera, EdD, MSN, CAGS, PMHNP-BC and Katie Krych, MSN, RN, PMHNP(c) talk about what happens when being the dependable one stops feeling like a strength and starts feeling like a trap.

They explore how women often step into the role of the reliable friend, partner, parent, and colleague—not always by choice, but because someone had to, and they were the ones who showed up. Layered on top of that is the mental load—the invisible, relentless work of remembering, planning, organizing, and anticipating the needs of everyone around them, while their own needs quietly fall to the bottom of the list. From scheduling appointments and managing the household to making decisions at work and showing up emotionally for everyon ...