DeepSummary
Host Amanda Montell welcomes Amelia Ngoski, co-author of the book 'Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle', to discuss the topic of burnout. Amelia explains that burnout is not just fatigue, but rather the failure to complete the 'stress response cycle' - a biological mechanism where the body experiences stress, takes action to address the stressor, and then returns to a state of calm. When this cycle is disrupted, it can lead to physical and mental symptoms like emotional exhaustion, cognitive problems, and even paranoia.
They discuss how societal pressures, particularly in a capitalist system, often prevent people from fully completing the stress cycle. Women are especially susceptible due to cultural expectations to be selfless caregivers. Amelia emphasizes the importance of separating the stressor from the physical stress response, and actively engaging in activities that allow the body to return to a state of safety and calm, such as exercise, creative expression, or social connection.
The conversation covers topics like gender differences in experiencing burnout, the role of self-blame, cultural variations, and practical techniques for mitigating burnout's effects. Amanda also shares anonymous thought spirals from listeners, which Amelia responds to in a 'lightning round' format.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Burnout is the result of a disrupted 'stress response cycle', where the body experiences stress but is unable to fully address and discharge that stress, leading to physical and mental exhaustion.
- Cultural and societal pressures, particularly in capitalist systems, often prevent individuals from completing the stress cycle through unrealistic workload expectations and narrow ideals of success.
- Women are especially susceptible to burnout due to gendered expectations to be selfless caregivers and suppress their own needs.
- Addressing burnout requires separating the source of stress from the physical stress response, and actively engaging in activities that allow the body to return to a state of safety and calm.
- Practical techniques for mitigating burnout include physical activity, creative expression, social connection, getting enough sleep, and surrounding oneself with a supportive community.
- Burnout is not a personal failing, but rather a natural consequence of systemic issues and unrealistic demands that exceed human capabilities.
- Completing the stress cycle can involve addressing past stressors and traumas, even from many years ago, that the body has held onto.
- While some level of stress is natural and even motivating, getting stuck in a state of chronic stress without the ability to discharge it leads to burnout.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “Emily calls it the stress Olympics, where you win a prize for being the most stressed out, for being the one who works the most hours for the least compensation. And you're supposed to get rewarded for that, but you don't, because what you get rewarded for is conforming to the socially constructed ideal for being thin, rich, white, male, educated, et cetera.“ by Amelia Ngoski
- “We blame ourselves because we are instructed explicitly to blame ourselves. We are told that we are the problem, that we're not trying hard enough, when in fact, we are doing everything we can. We are trying so hard all the time to do all the things, and meanwhile, external messages are coming to us that say we're not doing enough, we're not working hard enough.“ by Amelia Ngoski
- “I'm not saying every single illness that you experience is stress induced, but every single illness or pain you experience could be stress induced. In fact, the definition that we use in the book is that burnout is the experience of being overwhelmed and exhausted by everything you have to do and yet somehow still worried you're not doing enough.“ by Amelia Ngoski
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Episode Information
Magical Overthinkers
Amanda Montell & Studio71
6/26/24