#76: Burnout Isn’t Your Fault: Julie Merriman on People Pleasing & Living Past Capacity

🧠Start healing today with our #sponsor BetterHelp and get 10% off your first month by going to:⁠https://www.betterhelp.com/ichoosehealthAre you really falling apart, or are you operating past capacity?In this episode of the I Choose Health Podcast, Stefan Lessie speaks with Dr. Julie Merriman about women’s burnout, people pleasing, nervous system dysregulation, compassion fatigue, resentment, midlife identity shifts, somatic therapy, and why rest alone often does not fix burnout.Dr. Merriman explains how many women are rewarded for overfunctioning until their bodies finally say, “enough.” She also shares practical tools for reconnecting with the body, recognizing emotional signals, and rebuilding a life that no longer requires living past capacity.Julie Merriman’s Website: https://www.juliemerrimanphd.com/Books Mentioned:In Pursuit of Soul Joy by Dr. Julie Merriman:https://tinyurl.com/23durwy3Are We Gonna Have Sex Or What?:https://tinyurl.com/mumz3zwtPodcasts: Sexy After 50: https://www.juliemerrimanphd.com/sexy-after-50Compassion Fatigue Cure: https://www.juliemerrimanphd.com/compassion-fatigue-cure-1Chapters:00:00 People pleasing and living past capacity02:31 Welcome Dr. Julie Merriman04:11 What burnout feels like in the body06:36 Numbness, exhaustion, and compassion fatigue07:26 Burnout in New York City vs slower cultures13:05 Somatic therapy, chakras, and nervous system healing16:34 Movement as emotional release19:30 Therapy, trauma, and the body22:27 Burnout, autoimmune issues, and women’s health26:38 Midlife divorce, resentment, and relationship burnout31:14 Soul joy, identity, and women after 5038:31 Novelty, adventure, and staying open to life42:11 Men’s mental health and emotional language44:52 How to identify emotions in the body50:08 Why women miss the signs of overcapacity56:35 Dr. Julie Merriman’s books and final encouragement#BurnoutRecovery #WomensHealth #PeoplePleasing #SomaticHealing #MentalHealth #CompassionFatigue #IChooseHealth #JulieMerriman #NervousSystemHealing #SelfCare🔔 Subscribe & Connect with I Choose Health:🎥 YouTube Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@IChooseHealthPodcast 💪 Fitness Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@mindcorefitness1 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ichoosehealthpodcast/⁠🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ichoosehealthpodcast🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://anchor.fm/mindcore-fitness🛍️ Shop Merch: https://linkly.link/2ii1x#BurnoutRecovery #WomensHealth #PeoplePleasing #SomaticHealing #MentalHealth #CompassionFatigue #IChooseHealth #JulieMerriman #NervousSystemHealing #SelfCare