71. You’re Not Lazy, You’re Depleted: The Truth About Midlife Burnout in Women & How Body Based Approaches Can Begin To Heal the Nervous System

A Little Bit More About Today’s Guest:Dr. Julie Merriman is a PhD, licensed counselor, professor, author, and nationally recognized nervous system expert- In fact her work is grounded in a nervous system first frameworkJulie has 30+ years of experience helping high-achieving women move out of burnout, emotional exhaustion, and disconnectionCreator of The Radiance MethodM, a neuro-somatic framework for reclaiming energy, desire, and alivenessSpecializes in women over 50 who feel depleted, numb, or disconnected from their bodies and relationships Author of In Pursuit of Soul Joy and Are We Gonna Have Sex or What? Which was released recently in the spring of 2026Julie serves as the host of 2 podcasts where she goes deeper into conversations about the clinical frameworks and issues related to her missionHost of Compassion Fatigue Cure: From Burnout to Radiance for Women Healers 50+ Host of Sexy After 50: Improve Sex and Intimacy by Healing Your Nervous SystemKnown for her core message: You are not broken, you are operating past capacity. And, Welcome to your Homecoming!Julie offers a variety of programs including: 7-Day Radiance IntensiveTM - Which is A 7-Day Somatic Intervention for the Woman Who is the "Strong One" for Everyone Else and is Secretly Drowning in the Silence.  Somatic Signature Quiz - Freebie  Reignite Your Fire & Desire - Freebie  And as I previously mentioned her Books:  In Pursuit of Soul Joy  Are We Gonna Have Sex or What? (available now)What’s Inside This Episode:I chat with author, professor, podcaster, counselor, speaker, and coach about an array of topics centered on women’s emotional and mental health including burnout, compassion fatigue, and how to begin to understand the signs and devastating impacts of a depleted nervous system. There is hope, and we also talk about somatic and cognitive approaches where healing and restoration can begin to take place. Specifically, we chat about how so many women are deeply committed to caring for others and how that devotion can often start to turn into nervous system depletion or burnout.We discuss how women can begin to lose access to themselves, what that actually look like in day-to-day life, and how can someone recognize it early.Julie shares about the concept of compassion fatigue as well as how  chronic burnout or nervous system dysregulation can impact intimacy and relationships, especially for women in long-term partnerships.She shares about how women take on the role of “the helper” or “the one who holds everything together.” and touches on how women can begin to untangle who they are beyond that role.We get into some of the common misconceptions about self-care that might actually be keeping women stuck in cycles of depletion.Julie talks about body-based tools and how they are such an important component for fostering restoration and why working with the body is so essential compared to just talking through stress or burnout.We chat about what it can start to look like when women begin reconnecting with their bodies and reclaiming their energy, and the changes that can occur like more clarity in their sense of purpose and enhanced vitality.My guest also offers some great insights for someone who feels completely exhausted and disconnected, including a small practical step they can take today to begin restoring their energy. How You Can Connect With Julie and Her Work:You can learn more about her work and projects and connect with her through her website and various social media links listed below. juliemerrimanphd.comInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/dr.juliemerriman/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjuliemerriman  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php? id=61564870628821  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-julie-merriman/  Blog: https://www.juliemerrimanphd.com/blog  Podcasts:  Compassion Fatigue Cure - https://www.juliemerrimanphd.com/compassion- fatigue-cure-1  Sexy After 50 - https://www.juliemerrimanphd.com/sexy-after-50PerfectWhelm Podcast Links & Resources:Schedule a free discovery call with me to learn more about my coaching programs and services.Email: [email protected] hope you will follow, subscribe, rate, and/or share the podcast with someone you think might benefit from it.