If you are in a relationship with someone who had a difficult past, you probably feel compassion for them and all they have had to overcome. Their difficult past may include childhood trauma or abuse, abandonment, a serious illness, infidelity by a former partner, military service and combat, or any other form of trauma. There is no doubt that these types of trials will inevitably shaped a person’s personality and outlook on life.
They also often impact how someone interacts with the world, including their significant other.
Many women who are more emotional or empathetic are often drawn to people who are experiencing pain, or who have overcome adversity. Your sensitive nature makes you a natural caregiver, and may draw you to people who you feel may need your compassion.
You may try to “rescue” someone who you see as broken and in need, when in fact, your partner may actually be focused only on their well-being. The problem is that men who feel entitled to have control in the relationship, or who are narcissistic, are also drawn to compassionate women. This attraction between an empath and a narcissistic is not only confusing and codependent, it can be very dangerous.