Definition: A person who chronically prioritizes rescuing others or maintaining peace to the point of actively undermining their own well-being. They swoop in to fix problems, absorb others’ stress, and avoid conflict at all costs, mistaking this self-erasure for noble sacrifice.
This relentless “saving” inevitably leads to burnout, simmering resentment, and eroded personal boundaries. The Self-SaboSavior crashes spectacularly when they realize their neglected needs have piled up like unpaid bills, leaving them unable to function, while those they “saved” remain blissfully unaware of the cost.
Example: Despite being exhausted, Maria covered her colleague’s shifts all week, absorbing their stress until she collapsed, unnoticed by the team she saved.
He constantly silenced his own needs during arguments to keep peace, absorbing his partner’s anger until he felt invisible and utterly depleted.