"Burnout has three stages—overachievement, collapse, and recovery. Learn how to recognize where you are and how to begin healing with support."

If you're feeling exhausted, unmotivated, and emotionally numb, you might be wondering: Am I just burned out, or am I depressed? The line between the two can feel incredibly thin—especially for those of us who grew up in high-pressure, emotionally restrictive environments where rest wasn't an option and emotional needs were often dismissed.

Struggling with shame around your body or relationships after growing up in purity culture? This post unpacks how those teachings impact your nervous system, intimacy, and self-worth—and offers trauma-informed steps toward healing and reclaiming your autonomy. Perfect for anyone recovering from religious trauma or high-control environments.

Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation that makes a person question their own memory, feelings, or sense of reality. While the term often comes up in toxic relationships, it also shows up in religious environments—where it can be even more confusing and damaging.

Religious gaslighting uses spiritual language to control, silence, or shame people into obedience. If you’ve ever been made to feel “too emotional,” “too rebellious,” or “not faithful enough” just for asking questions or setting boundaries, you might be experiencing it.

While spirituality can be a powerful source of healing, when it's used to sidestep discomfort, it delays growth, alienates others, and disconnects us from our true selves. Life is hard. Pain is inevitable. But when we allow space for difficult emotions within our spiritual framework, we open the door to authentic healing and deeper connection—with ourselves, with others, and with our higher power.

Religious trauma happens when a faith-based environment causes lasting psychological and emotional distress. This can stem from strict, high-control religious settings, fear-based teachings, spiritual abuse, or coercive beliefs. Many people who grew up in these environments experience guilt, shame, identity struggles, and difficulty trusting themselves long after leaving.

If this resonates with you, know this: You’re not broken. You’re healing.

Trauma responses do not exist without the nervous system. Actually, no response you have can exist without the nervous system. Trauma, however, can rewire your responses, making seemingly normal situations feel overwhelming or unsafe. If you grew up in a restrictive or high-control environment, your nervous system may be stuck in survival mode, making emotional regulation and self-trust challenging. Understanding how trauma shapes your nervous system can empower you to break free from reactive patterns and reclaim control over your emotions. Keep reading to explore how trauma impacts your nervous system and why you respond the way you do. In this article, I will cover the four main trauma responses: fight, flight, freeze, and fawn.

Trauma is defined as an overwhelmingly distressing event. The body reacts to these events in four distinct ways designed solely for survival: Fight, Flight, Freeze, and Fawn. When there is a threat, our nervous system chooses one of these responses faster than we can think. It floods our body with hormones and neurotransmitters, all in an effort to preserve our life. Without the thinking brain's knowledge or permission, this ancient system jumps into action. It is one of the reasons our species has survived for as long as it has. Trauma becomes maladaptive when the reactions stick around long after the threat is gone.

Trauma is often defined as a deeply distressing o’r disturbing experience. One of the most common misconceptions about trauma is that it only arises from a single, catastrophic event. In reality, trauma can stem from a variety of experiences, including childhood neglect, systemic oppression, or chronic stress. Another widespread myth is that trauma must involve life-threatening situations. While such events increase the likelihood of trauma symptoms, emotional wounds from experiences like divorce or prolonged emotional abuse can be just as harmful, if not more so. Understanding trauma is essential for healing, as it allows individuals to recognize its effects and take steps toward recovery.

 Recognizing the signs of unresolved trauma—such as emotional distress, self-sabotage, and repeating destructive patterns—is the first step toward healing. By identifying these cycles and understanding their roots, we can begin the journey of breaking free from inherited trauma.

If you also deal with chronic illness, you know how unpredictable it can be. Some days, you feel capable and productive, and other days, even the simplest tasks feel impossible. It’s frustrating, but pushing through often leads to longer recovery times and deeper exhaustion. So today, I’m practicing what I preach—acknowledging my limits and taking care of myself.

Breaking the cycle of trauma is crucial for creating mentally stable and happier future generations. The good news is that healing generational trauma is possible. The first step is awareness—recognizing these patterns and understanding their origins.

Burnout is the fallout of excessive emotional stress and a lack of restorative self-care. It’s the equivalent of a runaway diesel engine—overheated, overworked, and on the brink of collapse. Imagine driving your car at 90 mph for 300,000 miles without an oil change or any other maintenance. Eventually, the engine will seize up, unable to function. Likewise, a fire that burns too hot won’t last the night.

Emotional burnout can feel like a barren wasteland—scorched earth where nothing seems capable of growing again. You might feel like a shadow of your former self, a hollowed-out shell of who you used to be. It’s an exhausting and disheartening state, leaving you drained of energy and inspiration. While there are many approaches to recovering from burnout, mindfulness stands out as one of the most effective and accessible tools in your arsenal.

Change often feels like a firestorm—intense, chaotic, and overwhelming. At Firestorm Counseling, we specialize in guiding individuals through life’s toughest transitions, helping them harness the power of resilience to emerge stronger and more focused. If you’re facing a difficult season, here’s how you can build resilience and regain your footing.