Sometimes, we define ourselves by our roles because it's easier to be "something" than "someone".
To be what we do instead of who we are.
Our roles are a part of who we are.
Mother, father, sister, brother, friend, employee.
But they aren't the whole of who we are.
I think we often lose touch with the best part of ourselves because we don't know how to be true to that part of us.
Therefore, we get lost in caring for others instead of caring for ourselves.
For me, a big part of recovery was finding my way back to the best part of myself.