I show up for myself when I listen to my body’s early whispers, not just its screams.
There were moments in my life, where I spent whole days just lying on my living room floor. Not able to move. Literally. My limbs would not follow any command – and it was a half-hearted command anyway.
Lying there was the best thing I could have done in that moment.
For a long time, I thought burnout arrived suddenly. As if one day I’m coping, and the next day my body pulls the emergency brake without warning.
Looking back, that story is… convenient. It means, it wasn’t really my “fault” and I couldn’t have prevented it anyway. And completely wrong.
My body didn’t ambush me.
It warned me. Repeatedly. I just didn’t know how to listen.
The early signs I brushed aside
Before burnout fully hit, there were so many signs:
- I was even more jumpy than normal, even flinching at a WhatsApp beep from my phone.
- Grocery shopping made me anxious and panic attacks became my normal.
- I lay awake at night for hours, with a tired body and a nervous mind.
- I felt deeply exhausted while simultaneously wired, as if my body couldn’t decide whether to shut down or stay alert “just in case”.
Emotionally, things became brittle.
- I was irritable and used a surprising amount of energy trying not to snap at my poor husband – not always successfully.
- Social interactions fell away – and it was a relief.
- I felt overwhelmed, then numb, sometimes within an hour.
- Joy quietly slipped away. Even enjoyable things started to feel like tasks on a veeery long to-do list.
One of the clearest signals, which I only understand now, was resistance in my body.
There were moments when I was supposed to meet a friend and everything in me didn’t want to go. Not because I didn’t care, but because my system was already overloaded. The problem was that I couldn’t explain it in a kind, socially acceptable sentence. There was no obvious reason. So, I pushed myself to go anyway, because that felt more reasonable than saying, “I’m overwhelmed and don’t quite know why.”
Unsurprisingly, forcing myself only made things worse.
Why burnout doesn’t come out of nowhere (a bit of science)
This isn’t just my experience. Research on stress and burnout shows that the nervous system signals overload long before we collapse.
From a nervous system perspective, burnout isn’t a sudden event. It’s the result of chronic stress activation.
When we’re under pressure, the body releases stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. That’s helpful in short bursts. It helps us to focus, be active, and get things done. The problem starts when this state becomes the default.
Over time, a constantly activated stress response can lead to:
- anxiety and panic
- sleep and digestive issues
- irritability or emotional numbness
- loss of motivation and joy
Pretty much down to a T, these were the signs I used to experience.
In other words, many of the symptoms people blame on “not coping very well” are actually signs of a nervous system that hasn’t had enough safety, rest, and recovery.
Imagine your nervous system as a 24/7 scanning system. It constantly searches for signs of safety and threat. The cues can be small, like an open door that unconsciously feels uncomfortable, or a cosy blanket that makes you feel protected.
Our sense of safety helps our body to relax and feel connected.
If the nervous system detects cues of threat, our body signals stress. And it signals it early: through tension, resistance, and exhaustion that doesn’t improve with sleep.
Burnout happens when those signals are consistently overridden and ignored. Usually by a sentence that sounds responsible or at least somewhat reasonable at the time:
“A couple of good night’s sleep and a bubble bath and I’m gonna be alright again.”
“I should be able to handle this.”
“Gosh, I feel like such a drama queen.”
The moment I finally stopped pushing
There was a clear turning point for me.
By that time, I was working as a Careers Adviser and had already been signed off sick by my GP. Even then, I wanted to push through one last week to tie up loose ends and finish what felt urgent (looking back on it, I can only shake my head. Not in a despicable way, but with compassion).
When I told my boss, she listened and then said, very calmly: “Don’t worry about it. Finish what you’re doing right now, shut down your laptop, and I’ll take care of everything else. Nothing is more important than your health.”
That was the moment my body exhaled.
Not because the situation had changed dramatically, but because I finally had permission to stop fighting myself.
Everything I thought was essential turned out to be manageable without me (who would have thought!). My health, however, wasn’t replaceable.
What listening to my body looks like now
Listening to my body doesn’t mean I float through life perfectly regulated and serene. I wish.
It means I notice early and I’m aware that my sense of safety is the key. My relationship with my body has changed massively and I’m listening to my needs like a mum listens to her child (most of the time).
- I ask for quiet and space when I need it, instead of explaining myself into exhaustion.
- I tell the people closest to me when I’m getting overwhelmed and need to step back.
- I rest before I’m completely depleted, rather than as a last resort.
Regular body check-ins help me notice tension, nervousness, or weariness before they escalate. Some days are still messy and low-energy. The difference now is that I don’t interpret that as failure. I know it’s part of being human. And of being a woman hitting peri-menopause … you might know the feeling!
And I adapt my behaviour. For example, even though I’m posting on social media, I very rarely scroll. Not out of lack of interest, but because my stress level raises very quickly when I'm scrolling for too long.
And my nervous system appreciates being treated as an ally rather than a complication.
If your body is whispering right now
If any of this feels familiar, I want you to know this:
You are not broken.
Your body isn’t being dramatic.
It’s communicating.
Headaches, anxiety, resistance, tension, exhaustion… these aren’t signs that you’re weak. They’re early warning signals asking for attention, not judgement.
Showing up for yourself doesn’t start when everything collapses.
It starts when you take subtle signals seriously enough to respond with care.
If you’d like gentle support with that, I created a Show Up for Yourself Mind Map with practical ideas for noticing and responding to your body’s early signals. You can download it for free and explore what feels supportive for you right now.
And you don’t need to read it all at once. Pick one idea that feels doable today.
If you feel like sharing:
What’s one small signal your body has been whispering lately?
Noticing is the first powerful step of showing up for yourself.
Loads of love,
Nadine xxx
Write a comment
Hubby (Saturday, 17 January 2026 16:40)
Very good babe, I’m super proud that you are starting to show up for yourself! Hopefully you can be an inspiration and help other people who might be struggling! � Love you loads! ��� xxx