Perfectionism is a Trauma Response with Garrett Wood

What if the drive that helped you succeed is the same force slowly burning you out?In this episode, I sit down with hypnotherapist and wellness coach Garrett Wood to explore a truth many high performers quietly live with: chronic stress hidden behind achievement. Garrett, an NBC-HWC, clinical hypnotherapist, executive functioning specialist, and founder of Gnosis Therapy, helps high-achieving leaders break the boom-and-bust cycle of burnout through a nervous-system-first approach.We discuss perfectionism, shame, nervous system overload, and why burnout doesn’t arrive overnight — it builds quietly beneath success.This conversation is for the high achiever, the perfectionist, and the one who appears to have it all together while constantly chasing “enough.”The Hidden Cost of Performance: Garrett shares how high-performance environments can train us to measure self-worth through output. I deeply relate to the pattern where validation feels earned through achievement and rest feels undeserved. Sleep, health, and relationships often deteriorate quietly while productivity rises.Perfectionism & Shame: Perfectionism isn’t about excellence — it’s rooted in beliefs like I am not enough, I am not safe, or I am fundamentally flawed. These beliefs often form early through emotional interpretation rather than explicit messages. Overcompensation can look powerful, but it quietly erodes well-being.Burnout Is Progressive: Burnout typically moves through stages: driven excitement → sacrificing recovery → wired but exhausted → depletion → shutdown. What feels sudden is often the result of long-ignored signals.Why Self-Care Isn’t Always Enough: Workouts, meditation, or downtime can regulate stress, but they don’t complete the stress response if emotions remain unprocessed. High achievers often override emotional signals — “fine” becomes the default, even though fine isn’t an emotion. Garrett encourages becoming a “sommelier” of your emotions: identifying, locating, and processing what you feel.Imposter Syndrome & Self-Talk: Imposter syndrome can be awareness rather than inadequacy. When fear pairs with “I’m not enough,” burnout accelerates. When it pairs with “I’m learning,” resilience grows.What Leads to Burnout: High ambition, emotional suppression, identity tied to performance, underlying shame, and lack of stress discharge practices all accumulate. Over time, the nervous system collects its debt.Closing Reflection: This conversation isn’t about becoming less ambitious. It’s about becoming safer inside your ambition — because achievement without safety becomes self-abandonment.Work with Garrett Wood:Website: www.gnosistherapy.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/wood.garrettInstagram: www.instagram.com/gnosistherapyLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gnosistherapyWork with Sherry Shaban:Book your FREE 30-minute Food Freedom Call now and start your journey to lasting change! Schedule here: https://sherryshabanfitness.com/clarityStuck in cravings, stubborn weight, or unwanted eating? Download my free e-Book Calm The Hormones That Drive Cravings and reset your body naturally. Get Your FREE Guide Here: https://sherryshaban.com/hormonesListen to more episodes at www.makepeacewithfood.com/podcast or subscribe to me on Spotify, Podcast, and YouTube so you never miss an episode!Join my Facebook Community: www.myfoodfreedomlifestyle.com Work with me: www.sherryshaban.com/transform Go deeper: www.makepeacewithfood.com Share your biggest takeaway and tag me on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn