There’s a type of person out there who is better at helping others than they are at looking after themselves. Maybe you’re one of them. Maybe you know someone who is. They are the backbone of the caring professions, giving strength to our schools, clinics, care homes and hospitals.But you will also find them in offices, gyms, community groups and charities – everywhere you look. There’s usually one in every family. But these people, who do so much to help others, are struggling. In their efforts to help wherever they can they typically overstretch themselves.Some face traumatic and distressing situations. Those in long-term caring relationships have no time to care for themselves. Those who are professional carers work prolonged hours with inadequate resources. Deeper down, beneath all of this, there is something else that causes helpers to suffer.It lurks unnoticed. It dwells in the psychology of the helper. Where people feel compelled to help others and don’t look after their own nee