If you’re feeling overwhelmed and exhausted and wondering if what you’re experiencing is burnout, this episode will help you understand what’s happening beneath the surface. In this first installment of a new mini-series, I draw a striking parallel between the early stages of burnout and the early stages of a toxic relationship — because in both, the warning signs hide behind something that feels good: passion, purpose, and being needed.
I made this episode for the helpers, high achievers, caregivers, therapists, and clinicians who pride themselves on being the go-to person — the ones who love being needed so much that they miss the moment self-sacrifice turns into self-abandonment. I know, because I was one of you.
Just like a “honeymoon phase” floods your brain with oxytocin and endorphins and quiets your rational mind, early burnout floods you with passion and purpose that quiet your body’s warning signals. I unpack how love bombing and grand gestures in relationships mirror the overwork, extra responsibility, and “I’ll figure it out” mentality that quietly built chronic stress in my body — long before I would have ever called it burnout.
Explore burnout recovery resources at See the Wonder — https://seethewonder.net or email us at info@seethewonder.net with any questions!
