41. Stress, Burnout, and Your Nervous System with Dr. Jen Bourgeois

Send us Fan MailWhat if stress isn’t just “in your head,” but a nervous system response your body is desperately trying to manage? In today’s episode, we’re joined by Dr. Jen Bourgeois, a Doctor of Pharmacy, Integrative Health Practitioner, and Fellow of the American Institute of Stress. After over a decade in community pharmacy and experiencing personal burnout, she shifted her approach to focus on the root cause of stress, dysregulation, and what she calls “dis-ease.” We explore how stress truly works in the body, what triggers are and why they’re subjective, the nervous system’s green/yellow/red ladder, and how to bring more “glimmers” into your day for regulation and healing. Jen explains how alcohol creates a false sense of relief while actually increasing anxiety and keeping people stuck in dysregulation. She also shares steps for mapping your own stress patterns and choosing healthier coping strategies. Key Moments:  00:22 – Jen’s background and burnout story 06:15 – Alcohol, stress, and nervous system physiology 07:53 – Mapping: stress switches, triggers, and coping 09:25 – What triggers are and how the body remembers 13:30 – Green (regulated), Yellow (fight/flight), Red (shutdown/burnout) 18:02 – Regulation vs. dysregulation 20:11 – “Glimmers” and how to return to calm 22:52 – Boundaries, tolerance, and personal agency 25:44 – Benefits of reducing alcohol on the nervous system 30:21 – Mommy-wine culture and stress normalization 33:13 – Setting boundaries without increasing stress Connect with Dr. Jen:Website: https://www.drjenbourgeois.com/Instagram: @drjenbourgeoisLinkedIn: Dr. Jennifer Bourgeois Connect with us at:afsuperpowers.com@afsuperpowers🎧 Listen, share, and subscribe to AF Super Powers for weekly stories, mindset tools, and real talk about living alcohol-free.Connect with AF Superpowers: Website  Instagram