Navigating Anxiety, Burnout, and Avoidance: A Candid Conversation on Mental Health and Self-Care

Hey friend 👋 — welcome to this vulnerable, unfiltered episode where Alex and I have one of those conversations. You know, the kind where you start by talking about burnout and end up questioning your whole identity (in the best way).

We get real about:

• How anxiety first showed up for us — before we even had words for it.
• The slippery slope between healthy rest and avoidance.
• What autistic burnout feels like and how it completely hijacks your brain and body.
• How trauma triggers sneak up (often in the form of simple texts or sensory overload).
• Our complicated relationships with our families and the fear of being truly seen by those who’ve known us the longest.
• The role of self-awareness, labels, and identity in our healing journeys.
• Why rest isn’t just physical — and how nervous system rest changed everything.
• The weird guilt that shows up when you do something just for YOU.
• Finding joy, connection, and freedom in little things: dancing in your living room, pole dancing, football, Play-Doh, and shower meditations.

We also talk about permission — the permission to rest, to say no, to set boundaries, and to live your values out loud, even when it's terrifying.

If you're stuck in burnout, avoidance, or feel like you're losing yourself in the chaos of life, I hope this conversation helps you feel a little more seen and a little less alone 💛

Links & Resources:

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