Ep.17: Burnout, Chronic Stress and Illness - Why More People Than Ever are Impacted

In this powerful episode of Shine the Spotlight, Nichi dives deep into the rising epidemic of burnout and chronic stress. She shares the real, raw truth about why so many people—especially women and those with invisible conditions—are feeling exhausted, foggy, and stuck. From nervous system dysregulation to the broken hustle culture, Nichi explores how burnout impacts our health, dreams, and daily lives, and offers a new, sustainable path forward. If you’re tired of just surviving and want to start thriving, this one’s for you. 

Key Takeaways:

• Burnout is not just emotional—it's a full-body experience. It affects mental clarity, physical health, relationships, and your ability to function and thrive.
• Australia is in a burnout crisis. 61% of workers report burnout—much higher than the global average. Only 20% feel they're thriving at work.
• Burnout isn’t laziness—it’s biology. When your nervous system is dysregulated, it deprioritises long-term goals and focuses solely on survival.
• Chronic stress manifests physically. Symptoms like gut issues, fatigue, brain fog, and chronic pain are often overlooked signs of nervous system overload.
• The success-at-all-cost model is broken. Hustle culture glamorises productivity while ignoring the toll on mental and physical wellbeing.
• Invisible illnesses and caregiving burdens amplify burnout. Women and caregivers are especially vulnerable due to emotional labor, societal expectations, and health conditions that are often misunderstood.
• You can't goal-set your way out of burnout. Rest, regulation, and a new way of working are essential for long-term wellbeing.
• Community and connection are powerful antidotes. Loneliness is as damaging as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, yet it's rarely discussed in relation to burnout.
• Sustainable health is the new success. You can’t thrive long-term without learning to manage your energy, regulate your nervous system, and prioritise recovery.

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Previous Intro and Outro music: Inspirational Acoustic - Organic Harmony by Sonican; and Andrii Poradovskyi from Pixabay.  Current music: levgen Poltavskyi from Pixabay.  
Disclaimer: This content is general in nature and intended for educational purposes only.  It is not deemed as psychological treatment and does not replace the advice from your health professional or need for psychological treatment.  

Transcript

0:06

Welcome to Shine the spotlight unseen, unspoken, and unstoppable. The podcast where we put a spotlight on the stories, struggles, and strengths set are invisible, often go unnoticed, or are in the shadows, or often overlooked. I'm your host, Nikki Moin, clinical psychologist, sustainable health coach and consultant. Author and passionate advocate for those navigating the invisible challenges. Here we dive deep into the unseen experiences, unspoken truth and unstoppable resilience of everyday people with extraordinary stories. Whether you are living with an invisible condition, facing internal battles, or holding on for story that deserves to be told, this space is for you. Join me as we explore powerful story, practical strategies and honest conversations designed to raise awareness, foster a deeper understanding, and inspire connection. This podcast is a place where your voice matters. Your journey is valued, and your reminded that you are seen, you are heard, and you're unstoppable. If you have a story that deserves a spotlight or know someone whose journey should be shared. I'd love to hear from you. My contact details are in the show notes. Let's shine the spotlight together. Welcome everybody to another episode of Shine the Spotlight where we illuminate the unseen, the unspoken, and the unstoppable. I'm your host, Nikki Moran. And today we are talking about something that I'm super passionate about and that's around sustainable health and why more people than ever before seem to be affected now. So whether it's chronic stress, burnout, invisible illnesses, stress related illnesses, the rising tolerance taken on our health, our energy and our lives is enormous. So let's be real. It feels like we're constantly running but getting nowhere. Like we're just on a treadmill all the time. We are working longer hours, juggling more responsibilities, trying to find side hustles, and trying to keep up with the rising costs while trying to also manage our energy, our health, and the weight of everything we're supposed to be doing. And it's taken a toll. And this is shown in the research, in the news people you talk to. It's everywhere. And the reality is, we are not meant to live like this. It's not sustainable, and burnout is no longer just a buzz word. It's a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion, which is caused by prolonged stress. So this is when it feels like there's no relief or support in sight. You feel constantly drained like you're detached from your work. All your relationships, you're struggling with motivation, things you used to enjoy, you no longer find that enjoyment. You can feel physically unwell. If you have any of these, it might mean that you're experiencing burnout. Burnout makes it incredibly difficult to reach your goals. When you're running on empty. Your clarity, your focus, and your ability to follow through just diminishes. You can start doubting yourself, second guessing your decisions and procrastinating. And this isn't because you're lazy, but because your system is in overwhelm, what should feel exciting, such as your dreams, your projects, or your plans just starts feeling more like a burden or a chore. It's another thing just to tick off that never ending list. Burnout hijacks your drive. It delays your progress and it erodes the confidence and energy needed to move forward. If you are wondering why everything feels harder lately, it might not be you. It might be burnout, blocking your path. It is now officially classified by the World Health Organization as an occupational syndrome. Which is defined as a condition resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. So this syndrome's characterized by three dimensions, feeling of energy, depletion or exhaustion, increased mental distance from your job, or feeling negative about your job and reduced professional efficacy. And in Australia, we are really feeling it hard. So a recent study has found that 61% of Australian workers report experiencing burnout, which is significantly higher than the global average of 48%. And over 50% of Australians are living with chronic conditions. Now the 2023 State of the Australian and New Zealand Workplace Report Report. Found that 50% of Australian employees experience considerable stress at work, and 67% are quiet, quitting. Only 20% of Australians report feeling that they're thriving in their role, and stress related absenteeism and burnout cost the Australian economy an estimated 14 billion annually. So that's massive. Uh, 2023 study also found that 30% of full-time workers globally are burnt out. So that's one in three, but more than 76% have it sometimes. So one in three people are constantly running on empty at all times So a huge majority of people report physical symptoms such as stress. Headaches, fatigue, tummy issues, sleep disturbances. It's not just the emotional exhaustion, it's like a whole body shutdown. In the past, there's been a culture created where exhaustion is worn, like a badge of honor. Productivity is praised, like the more you can do, do, do, the more you can achieve well, rest is perceived as laziness. The hustle's being glamorized. But the actual cost of this is rarely discussed, and it's starting to show, and I think until you've lived it, it's hard to get your head around, this is something I've lived and it's super duper hard. So many people are caught in the loop of surviving and not thriving. They get through the day only to collapse at night, then wake up and do it all over again. Often feeling guilty for not doing more. More people are also becoming physically unwell, experiencing a wave of unexplained symptoms like brain fog, fatigue, gut issues, headaches, chronic pain, pain that moves. It's not in the same spot in your body. These stress related illnesses are rising and it's often dismissed and misunderstood, and it's hard to get diagnoses for. People are stuck in a funk, tired, disconnected, no longer feeling like themselves. And happiness is filling outta reach for many and many can't even remember what thriving feels like anymore. But burnout isn't just a mental thing, it's a whole body thing. Chronic stress floods our systems with cortisol and adrenaline keeping us in a constant state of fight or flight. And this prolonged stress response can lead to chronic health issues such as fibromyalgia. Autoimmune disorders, adrenal fatigue, anxiety, depression, and gastrointestinal issues. I know this firsthand, years of living in a high stress state, navigating unresolved trauma, pushing myself too hard and not listening to my body, led to my own crash. I found myself dealing with a range of chronic health conditions, hypermobility spectrum disorder, and autoimmune condition, relentless fatigue, central sensitization of the nervous system, and severe gastrointestinal issues. What started as subtle symptoms quickly snowballed into a full blown health crisis. I went from this high functioning, high achieving, doing 50 things at once to barely functioning woman. My nervous system was constantly overstimulated like it. It was like a fried, my nervous system. My energy was just tanked and my health just started unraveling. This experience changed everything for me. It forced me to stop, listen, and completely rethink how I live and work. And now I help others do the same because burnout is not just a moment for many, it's a turning point. So I dunno if anyone's heard of Dr. Marta. So his work highlights how stress and emotional repression are directly linked to illness. The body literally says no when the mind won't. And what he means is that when we suppress emotions or push through pain and overwhelm without support, those unacknowledged stresses often manifest physically. So our bodies start to absorb the stress. They absorb what our minds deny, leading to immune issues, inflammation, and chronic conditions. That seemingly come outta nowhere. This perspective changed how I view my own health, my clients, and all those I advocate for, and it's one of the key principles behind the work that I do now. So rates of invisible illnesses are on the rise, and yet these conditions are often misunderstood or dismissed by the medical system. The nervous system gets dysregulated, which means the body's stuck in survival mode. It's constantly scanning for danger even when there is none, and people living in this heightened state of hypervigilance are unable to relax. They can't feel safe or switch off. And this then leads to a cascade of physical, emotional, and cognitive symptoms. When the nervous system gets stuck in the fight, flight, freeze mode, it disrupts sleep, digestion, hormone regulation, and immune function. It affects our ability to focus, connect, and feel joy. So over time, this chronic dysregulation can contribute to pain, fatigue, anxiety, gut issues, brain fog, and just that feeling of overwhelmed or like you're on edge, like your body's scanning for the next threat. The body's always bracing for impact, but there's no space to heal or recover when you're in that state. So the World Health Organization has reported that stress related disorders are becoming one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. So it's not just a you issue, it's not a personal health issue, it's a public health crisis, like more needs to be talked about in this space and the old model of success. Well, it's long broken. So for decades we've been told to hustle and grind and just push through. But what happens when you reach your goals and then you feel more disconnected and depleted and unfulfilled than ever? We've sacrificed sleep, peace, joy, relationships, and even our own health to make it. But what are we really making? Burnout is disproportionately affecting women caregivers and those living with invisible illnesses. So studies reveal that between 40 to 70% of family caregivers. Experience clinical symptoms of depression and 23% report that caregiving has negatively impacted their own physical health. So women caregivers are particularly vulnerable facing increased risks of poor, physical and mental health, including higher rates of depression and anxiety. So these people are often doing unpaid emotional labor, juggling multiple roles. And then this is putting them under the immense pressure on mental and physical health, and often they don't prioritize their own health. Additionally, people with invisible illnesses such as chronic fatigue, autoimmune disorders, um, elastin loss, pots, pelvic conditions, or neurodivergence like a DH, ADHD or autism encounter, unique challenges that amplify their vulnerability to burnout. The brain's more prone to being wired naturally, so then this can lead to more dysregulation easier. So many of these symptoms are misunderstood or minimized or dismissed, leading to further isolation and stress. So burnout and loneliness are now going hand in hand, and loneliness has been found to be as deadly as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Yes. You heard that right? Loneliness is as deadly as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, but we rarely talk about the isolation or the loneliness that comes with chronic stress or living with a condition. The success at all cost model is not sustainable, and I'm all about sustainability and trying to find success without it costing you your health. And the success at all cost model. This leads to illness breakdown, emotional collapse. Before we realize something needs to change. We are already down there in the trenches, burnout doesn't just affect our health, it affects our hopes and our drive and our ability to move forward. When you are chronically stressed, your brain literally can't function at full capacity. So your executive functioning, which is part of your brain, responsible for things like planning, organization, decision making, all that starts to shut down. So this is why you might feel foggy and scattered or un unable to follow through on a task. So it's not laziness people or lack of ambition, the ambitions there. But it's biology in your way. So when your nervous system's dysregulated and in survival mode, your body doesn't care about your to-do list or those five to-do lists you have sitting there, or your five year goals. It's just trying to get through the next hour or the next five minutes. So those dreams you've been working on so hard for. They start to feel distant or overwhelming or maybe even impossible. And then what happens? The shame spiral. You start questioning your motivation or your ability, your worth. Those I'm not good enough or I'm a failure. Thoughts pop in. You wonder why you can't just push through like you used to. But pushing through is what got you here in the first place. And trust me, I learn the hard way and here's the truth. You can't goal set the way your way at a burnout. You can't manifest your dream life from a place of depletion. You need rest regulation and space, and a new way of approaching achievement that works with your body and mind and not against them. So when people begin to heal their nervous system, they learn how to manage their energy. And give themselves permission to do things differently. And then something incredible happens, they start to reconnect with those goals, their creativity, their vision, not from a place of fear or pressure, but from alignment and clarity. And your goals matter, but you matter more. And when you are well, your goals become reachable, not just another thing to push through or to survive. And people are craving more than just survival. They want flexibility, wellbeing, connection, purpose, and rest. More time being busy living, and they're tired of being told they have to choose between success, living life and health. We need success and health hand in hand. We need a new definition of success. One. That includes feeling good in your body, honoring your needs, living in alignment with your values, and doesn't cost you your health. Sustainable health means learning to relive sustainable health means relearning to live and to work. How to manage your energy, not just your time. It's tuning into your body's signals, setting boundaries. And allowing for rest and regulation is so important. So this means nervous system awareness as the first step, learning how to come outta fight and flight and into states of calm connection and safety, and relearning how to live and work in a way that supports rather than depletes us. So research shows that when people are arrested, connected, and supported, they perform better. Think more clearly and are more resilient. So it's not about doing less, it's about doing things differently. This sustainable health model teaches us to honor our uniqueness, our limits, and our needs without the shame to live and work in a way that supports your long-term vitality. So it starts with awareness and noticing the signs of burnout. The constant fatigue, the detachment, brain fog, irritability. So you might find yourself giving in more irritable or snappy than usual at things that normally don't bother you. Sleeping might be hard. There could be your immune rundown, your frequently getting sick, and then begin building sustainable selfy systems. So this is where it's the nervous system regulation, tools, prioritizing sleep and rest. Limiting the overstimulation and the sensory overload and those things that are like vampires and drain you of energy and reconnecting to what brings you meaning and joy, and it's surrounding yourself with the people who see you, hear you, and understand you. Community is one of the most healing forces available to us. Letting go of the myth that success requires suffering. This is no longer relevant. The most successful people aren't those who never rest, but those who know when and how to rest. So my big message to you, you are not broken. The system is, and it's okay to want more for your life without sacrificing your health to get it. So here's your invitation. Let's rewrite these rules. Let's spread the word. Let's get more people talking about sustainable health and working and living in a way that's aligned with our nervous system and our bodies instead of against it. Let's define success on our own terms. One that includes energy and joy and peace and presence. One where we can shine the spotlight on what matters most, which is our health, our humanity, and our connection. We get one life. We wanna be able to live that life. Because this isn't just a feel good conversation, it's a vital one. Burnout and chronic stress are major contributors to long-term illness and disability. And in Australia alone, the workplace burnout costs the economy billions each year in loss, proactivity, absenteeism, and healthcare expenses. And it also hits our own hip pockets when we're constantly having to have health appointments or time off work. The impact's enormous, personally, socially, economically. And if we don't start to change the way we live and work now, we'll keep seeing more people burning out, breaking down, and slipping through the cracks. Sustainable health is no longer an option. It's essential. So ask yourself, what are you carrying that you were never meant to carry alone? What would you like? What would your life look like if it felt good to be in your body, your work, and your relationships? I'm so passionate about this topic and my whole coaching business. Nikki Marron Coaching and Consulting, surrounds this topic. It's all focused on it, and enormous this is now, it's a public epidemic. I am offering a free masterclass. You can register for it online. I'll put the link in the comments on how you too can work smarter, not harder when living with chronic conditions, burnout, or stress related illnesses. So in that we will cover or pushing through is keeping you stuck and how to break the cycle. The signs behind your energy dips, the motivation crashes, and the nervous system dysregulation. How to work with your body and not against it for better results with less strain and real life trauma informed tools to improve focus, energy and output. So we'll learn how to create sustainable momentum even on those low energy days. It's about learning to go from surviving to strategic thriving. So I will link this into the show notes if you're interested. It is free. I am spreading the word. I want to try and help as many people as possible as part of my million scene movement, and I really hope you enjoyed listening today. I hope it resonated with you. For some people, they might recognize that maybe they're in burnout or there could be stress related condition. And there is ways out of this. We can realign the nervous system, we can rejuvenate and replenish, and we can still work towards the girls we have, but in a sustainable way that doesn't come at the cost of our health. So thank you for listening to today's episode, and I'll be back with another one really soon. Thank you for joining me on this episode of Shine the Spotlight, unseen, unspoken, and unstoppable podcast. I hope today's conversation has left you feeling inspired, empowered, or having a greater understanding. Whether you are facing something unseen, carrying something unspoken, or finding your way to become unstoppable, know that you're not alone. If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Together we can show in the spotlight where it's needed most. Your support helps these important stories reach more people who need this heard and remember, this is your platform. Two, if you or someone you know has an inspiring story of resilience, a voice that needs to be heard, or a topic that deserves to be explored, I'd love to feature it on the podcast. Reach out, or you can find me on social media where details are in the show notes. Your story could be the spotlight that someone else needs to hear. Until next time, take care of yourself. Keep shining and stay unstoppable.