In this episode of Wired for Well-Being, Dr. Jeffrey Rutstein and producer Steve Lessard explore a deeply common but rarely named struggle: Why do so many of us feel unsafe slowing down, resting, or easing up—even when we know we’re exhausted?

Through a listener question from a woman who feels driven to overwork, over-check, and over-effort despite financial stability and professional success, Jeffrey unpacks how the nervous system can become locked into patterns of anxiety, not-enoughness, and shame. Together, they explore why rest can feel threatening, why self-trust erodes under chronic activation, and how cultural messages about productivity reinforce these patterns.

This conversation goes beneath habits and mindset to reveal how nervous system states drive our beliefs about worth, safety, and enoughness—and why lasting change requires working with the body, not against it.

You’ll learn:

As Jeffrey explains, many of us aren’t choosing to push ourselves so hard—our nervous systems are doing it for us. When we learn to recognize these patterns and gently bring more regulation and compassion online, new options open up: rest without fear, effort without collapse, and a deeper sense of safety in our own bodies.

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The content in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional mental health advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical or mental health concerns.