Resilience Trap: How Perfectionism Anxiety Becomes Burnout

Contact us by whatsapp on +447485622662- let us know what you think of this episode. Staying in a job that’s crushing you can look like grit from the outside, but inside it can feel like slow erosion. Cheryl sits down with Dr Vanessa Laveau-Richmond, a clinical neuropsychologist, to separate true resilience from unhealthy tolerance and to name the moment when “pushing through” stops being brave and starts being costly. We get honest about what burnout can actually feel like when your nervous system finally taps out, and why so many high performers stay in toxic workplace culture, impossible workloads, or poor management because change feels like failure. Dr Vanessa explains the brain’s bias for the familiar, why anxiety spikes when you consider a career change, and why waiting for the “perfect time” to act often keeps you stuck longer than you want. Then we move into tools you can use right away: the “brain dollars” concept for managing your mental energy at work, what chronic stress and cortisol do to focus, memory, and your body, and a simple decision framework to frame any stressor as something you fix, face, or forget. You’ll leave with clearer language, practical next steps, and a gentler truth to hold onto: your brain and body are built to get through hard things, even when you don’t feel ready. If this helped, subscribe, share it with someone who’s running on empty, and leave a review so more people can find support for work stress, anxiety, and burnout. The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers Support the show If this episode helped, please share it with someone who needs a calmer five minutes: https://followthepodcast.com/workstressanxiety If you'd like to support the podcast, leaving a review genuinely helps other overwhelmed humans find it without having to survive another "10x your mindset" podcast first: https://lovethepodcast.com/workstressanxiety Got feedback, a question, or a future episode suggestion? https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®. Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™ Connect with Cheryl Paris LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylparis/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abgwblog Shared stories are anonymised. This podcast is provided for educational and self- reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, workplace, or professional advice. Disclaimer: https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/ © Cheryl Paris. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.