Healing Burnout
Here's one of those things that kind of sucks, but is true.
If you've been living in survival mode for years (decades?) and you're FINALLY ready to stop, you're going to crash.
I was on the chronic stress / cortisol burnout / adrenal fatigue / dysregulated nervous system journey for way too long. For YEARS, I pushed through—because I thought that was the only option.
🫶 I’ve learned to be unapologetic about resting and taking the time it takes to heal what my years of hustling broke.
Important side note: I absolutely realize the privilege in this, and know that, for a whole lot of people, the inability to rest isn't a personal issue, but a systemic one. I believe those of us who do have the ability and resources to slow down and tend to our bodies have a responsibility to set a new standard of normal.
I hate to be the one to tell you this, but if you've been living with chronic stress for a long time, aren't sleeping well and are dealing with daily brain fog and exhaustion, you need more than a massage or a weekend away.
All of that stress has been preventing your immune system from doing its job, and it's likely been choosing survival over healing. Your body thinks it's being chased by a lion, and it's shutting down non-essential systems like
The immune system [= frequent illnesses that linger for weeks, autoimmune diagnoses]
The digestive system [= leaky gut, dysbiosis, bloating, gas, food intolerances]
The menstrual cycle [= PMS, PMDD, painful or irregular periods, infertility]
If you're ready to get off the stress roller coaster, be ready for a crash.
The “let down effect” is a real thing. When the body relaxes and the immune system reactivates, there might be a rebound effect. Have you ever gotten sick right AFTER making it through a really big stressor?
The answer to the let down effect is even more rest. Even more slowness. Longer, deeper breaths.
Sometimes healing feels like one stop forward and two steps back.
It doesn't happen overnight.
If this resonates—if you’re somewhere on this path too—stick around. I’m not an expert, but I’m learning. And I love sharing what I've learned.