Work Stress Anxiety | Burnout Prevention & Work Anxiety Help

Your workplace isn’t the only thing triggering you. Sometimes what looks like “I’m reacting to my boss” is actually an older emotional pattern waking up and running the same script again. Cheryl is joined by Deepak Chari for a grounded conversation on work stress, workplace anxiety, and the small, practical shifts that help you respond differently when “just calm down” feels impossible.

We start with the most accessible lever you have all day: your breath. Deepak explains how stress shows up as shallow or erratic breathing, then walks through a simple heart-centred breathing practice you can do in minutes, even at your desk. Whether you think of it as mindfulness, nervous system regulation, or heart chakra work, the payoff is the same: a real pause that lowers reactivity and gives you options.

From there, we dig into non-judgmental self-awareness. Noticing is information. Blame is a verdict. You’ll hear how to spot the signals (tight shoulders, slumped posture, racing breath), then “do the opposite” as a quick reset. We also talk about why tiny positive steps matter more than dramatic life overhauls, how evidence of progress builds confidence, and how a “spiral up” can replace the familiar spiral down.

If you’re a manager, new leader, or high achiever carrying pressure quietly, we also explore a mindset shift that reduces burnout: separating who you are from the role you’re performing. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a calmer workday, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.

Send us Fan Mail

The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers

Support the show

Got feedback, a question, or a future episode suggestion?

https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety

Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®.

Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™

Connect with Cheryl Paris

LinkedIn:
https://go.workstressanxiety.com/linkedin 

Facebook:
https://go.workstressanxiety.com/Facebook

Shared stories are anonymised.

This podcast is provided for educational and self- reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, workplace, or professional advice.

Disclaimer:
https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/

© Cheryl Paris. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.

A single message from your boss can land like a punch, even when you tell yourself it is “not a big deal”. We dig into why work stress and anxiety can spike so fast and why the reaction often feels bigger than the moment. I’m joined by Deepak, who has spent decades helping people understand triggers, subconscious patterns, and the emotional “source code” we carry from earlier experiences. The goal is not to label you as broken; it is to help you stop blaming yourself and start making sense of what your nervous system is trying to protect you from.

We talk through the mechanics of getting triggered: the body reacts first, the mind explains later. Deepak shares how similar tones, authority dynamics, or criticism can pattern-match to childhood moments of shame or humiliation, which is why “I know better” does not always change behaviour. We also explore how these subconscious imprints can repeat in relationships and careers, showing up as people pleasing, perfectionism, or self-sabotage that blocks promotions, confidence, and peace at work.

You’ll hear practical tools you can use immediately, especially slowing your breathing to create a pause your brain will follow. We also get honest about shame, guilt, and denial, including how saying “I’m fine” can clash with what your voice and body reveal. We end with a simple, compassionate question that can redirect your mind toward self-respect and new neural pathways: what do you love about yourself, and how are you actually doing right now?

If you want to go deeper, check out fastanxietyhelp.com and share your thoughts at podcastfeedback.com/works dressed on my team. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find practical help for workplace anxiety.

Send us Fan Mail

The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers

Support the show

Got feedback, a question, or a future episode suggestion?

https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety

Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®.

Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™

Connect with Cheryl Paris

LinkedIn:
https://go.workstressanxiety.com/linkedin 

Facebook:
https://go.workstressanxiety.com/Facebook

Shared stories are anonymised.

This podcast is provided for educational and self- reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, workplace, or professional advice.

Disclaimer:
https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/

© Cheryl Paris. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.

Stress doesn’t always feel like stress. Sometimes it feels like a “normal” Tuesday, a full inbox, another meeting, and the quiet sense that you’re holding your breath all day. In this conversation, we dig into what’s really happening when work stress and anxiety sit in the background for so long that you stop noticing the cost, even as your body starts waving a white flag through tension, irritability, shutdown, or sleep loss.

I’m joined by Deepak, who shares how subconscious patterns can overpower your best intentions in the moment, like when you promise yourself you’ll speak up and then freeze. We explore the link between chronic stress, the subconscious mind, and limiting beliefs such as “I’m not good enough” or “I’m not worthy,” and why those beliefs can keep high-functioning people stuck in overwork, self-doubt, and constant self-blame. You’ll also hear Deepak’s perspective on how early conditioning shapes the way we react to pressure later in life, and why two people can experience the same workplace and respond completely differently.

Most importantly, we keep it practical and gentle. We talk about awareness as a first step, how to check in with your breathing and posture without turning it into an inquisition, and one simple question that can help you trace today’s reaction back to an older pattern so you can choose a different response next time. If you want better stress management, improved workplace wellbeing, and a calmer nervous system, this is a powerful place to start.

If this helped you, subscribe, share it with a friend who’s been saying “I’m fine,” and leave a review so more people can find the show.

Send us Fan Mail

The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers

Support the show

Got feedback, a question, or a future episode suggestion?

https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety

Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®.

Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™

Connect with Cheryl Paris

LinkedIn:
https://go.workstressanxiety.com/linkedin 

Facebook:
https://go.workstressanxiety.com/Facebook

Shared stories are anonymised.

This podcast is provided for educational and self- reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, workplace, or professional advice.

Disclaimer:
https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/

© Cheryl Paris. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.

That little spike of panic when someone asks, “Can you explain that part?” is becoming a normal workplace feeling, especially when AI helped write the original answer. We’ve all seen it: the email reads smooth, the wording sounds smart, and the work looks done. Then the conversation shifts, the scenario changes slightly, and we realise we don’t fully understand what we just sent. That is where work stress and anxiety can sneak in, not because we’re incapable, but because modern tools can create polished output faster than our learning can catch up.

We talk about the difference between getting an answer and making it your own, and we name the space between those two as the requisite learning gap. It’s not a diagnosis and it’s not a character flaw. It’s a practical way to pinpoint what still needs to click before we can take responsibility, explain our reasoning, or confidently adapt a recommendation. We also look at the real-world conditions that worsen the pressure: workplaces that reward speed, immediate responses, and “finished” writing while leaving little room for learning, checking sources, or asking basic questions out loud.

To make it tangible, we use the sat nav analogy: it can get you to the address, but it doesn’t automatically teach you the city. Then we share a simple, low-stakes exercise you can try in minutes to rebuild clarity and confidence: read one short AI-generated explanation, look away, explain it in your own words, and test it with an example and an exception. If you want calmer, sharper thinking with AI at work, subscribe, share this with a colleague, and leave a review with the question you want us to explore next.

Send us Fan Mail

The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers

Support the show

Got feedback, a question, or a future episode suggestion?

https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety

Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®.

Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™

Connect with Cheryl Paris

LinkedIn:
https://go.workstressanxiety.com/linkedin 

Facebook:
https://go.workstressanxiety.com/Facebook

Shared stories are anonymised.

This podcast is provided for educational and self- reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, workplace, or professional advice.

Disclaimer:
https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/

© Cheryl Paris. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.

A three line email lands at 4:45 pm and suddenly your whole evening belongs to it. Not because the message is long, but because your mind starts filling in the blanks: What did they mean, did I disappoint someone, is this the start of a bigger problem? I’m Cheryl Parris, a clinical hypnotherapist and stress recovery coach, and I want to help you spot the exact moment when a real work difficulty quietly turns into a statement about who you are. 

We explore the difference between two very different experiences: “something happened at work that needs attention” versus “this proves I’m not good enough.” One calls for clarity, boundaries, or problem solving. The other drags your self worth into the conversation and makes it feel like no amount of completed work, meetings, or targets can ever be enough. We also talk about why rumination is so draining, how repeating a thought can start to feel like evidence, and how absolute words like always, never, and everyone can color a situation until you can’t see the specific event underneath. 

You’ll leave with a simple evidence bank journaling experiment you can do in minutes: write two lines only, what happened and what your mind immediately made of it. Side by side, those sentences often reveal the gap between facts and fear, and that gap is where calmer decisions live. If you’ve been replaying one moment on a loop, try the two lines today, then subscribe, share the episode with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find practical help with work stress and anxiety.

Send us Fan Mail

The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers

Support the show

Got feedback, a question, or a future episode suggestion?

https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety

Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®.

Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™

Connect with Cheryl Paris

LinkedIn:
https://go.workstressanxiety.com/linkedin 

Facebook:
https://go.workstressanxiety.com/Facebook

Shared stories are anonymised.

This podcast is provided for educational and self- reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, workplace, or professional advice.

Disclaimer:
https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/

© Cheryl Paris. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.

Why is work still hijacking my head when I've already logged off?

Setting a boundary means nothing if it never changes what you do, and that single line can stop you in your tracks. Cheryl Paris is joined by Stephanie for a grounded conversation about work stress, anxiety, and the emotional cost of always being the dependable one. We get honest about what happens after burnout, especially when you return to work and realise the world expects the “old you” back on full power. 

We dig into the people pleasing trap and the guilt that follows when you start to say no. Is it selfish to pull back? Stephanie argues it is not black and white. The real work is deciding what you are willing to support and what you are not, then giving others time to adjust to the new normal. You will also hear one of the smallest boundary shifts that can make a big difference: show up for yourself even when you cannot do the full version, whether that is a ten minute gym visit or a smaller slice of a habit you keep skipping. 

Then we take a surprising but practical turn into screen time. If your phone is your main “decompression” tool, you may be feeding the very overwhelm you want to escape. We talk algorithms, 24-7 access, and a simple prioritising tool: glass plate vs paper plate responsibilities. Cheryl also shares her ABGW method from her 31 Days to Balance and Wellbeing programme, including tiny daily actions and random acts of kindness that help shift how stress feels in the body. 

We close with a thought experiment about a world without stress and anxiety, and what pressure-free living might look like in real life. If you want clearer boundaries, less overwhelm, and more present-moment calm, listen now, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review.

Send us Fan Mail

The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers

Support the show

Got feedback, a question, or a future episode suggestion?

https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety

Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®.

Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™

Connect with Cheryl Paris

LinkedIn:
https://go.workstressanxiety.com/linkedin 

Facebook:
https://go.workstressanxiety.com/Facebook

Shared stories are anonymised.

This podcast is provided for educational and self- reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, workplace, or professional advice.

Disclaimer:
https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/

© Cheryl Paris. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.

I'm shattered. Why is my brain still acting like the day isn't over?

Praising burnout is quite a dangerous ordeal. When you’re the dependable one, the fixer, the person everyone relies on, it can look like strength right up until it starts costing you sleep, peace, and self-respect. We sit with a tough question: at what point does being reliable quietly become self-sacrifice, and what has to change for you to stop sliding into that role on autopilot? 

Stephanie joins me to break down why “just set boundaries” can be true and still feel emotionally useless. We talk about the real trade-offs that come with boundaries, what you might lose when you stop over-giving, and why workplace culture can make leaving on time feel like you’re doing something wrong. We also dig into people pleasing, the fear of being disliked, and the identity trap of always being the helper who never says no. 

We get honest about the wellness messaging so many organizations promote, and why it can feel like empty branding when workloads stay the same. Then we bring it back to something practical you can use today: resentment. If resentment keeps showing up, it is not random, it is a signal that a boundary is overdue. We share how to spot it, where to start, and why maintaining boundaries matters far more than announcing them. 

If this hits close to home, subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What boundary are you ready to hold this week?

Send us Fan Mail

The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers

Support the show

Got feedback, a question, or a future episode suggestion?

https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety

Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®.

Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™

Connect with Cheryl Paris

LinkedIn:
https://go.workstressanxiety.com/linkedin 

Facebook:
https://go.workstressanxiety.com/Facebook

Shared stories are anonymised.

This podcast is provided for educational and self- reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, workplace, or professional advice.

Disclaimer:
https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/

© Cheryl Paris. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.

Why does one honest boundary feel like a confession of guilt?

If “being dependable” is your default, boundaries can feel like betrayal, even when you’re drowning. Cheryl Paris is joined by EMDR specialist Stephanie McCallister for a candid look at why high-functioning people can look totally fine on the outside while running on fumes inside and how that gap quietly feeds workplace stress, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion. 

We dig into what boundaries actually mean (with other people and with yourself) and why keeping a boundary is often harder than setting one. Stephanie shares a simple, sharp litmus test: resentment. When you’re constantly giving and starting to feel bitter toward work, family, or friends, it’s often a sign your “helpfulness” has crossed into self-sacrifice. We also talk about the mental load so many women carry, the shame and blame that shows up when something inevitably drops, and how burnout can reach a point where you truly feel you have nothing left to fight with. 

You’ll also hear a practical take on EMDR therapy and trauma processing, including why trauma can show up as anxiety and triggers. We close with realistic ways to reconnect when you don’t even know what you need anymore: one small action, five minutes at a time, using the basics like movement, sunlight, and showing up for yourself without waiting to feel ready. If this resonates, subscribe, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

Send us Fan Mail

The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers

Support the show

Got feedback, a question, or a future episode suggestion?

https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety

Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®.

Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™

Connect with Cheryl Paris

LinkedIn:
https://go.workstressanxiety.com/linkedin 

Facebook:
https://go.workstressanxiety.com/Facebook

Shared stories are anonymised.

This podcast is provided for educational and self- reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, workplace, or professional advice.

Disclaimer:
https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/

© Cheryl Paris. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.

I closed the laptop. Apparently my brain didn't get the memo.

You can be great at your job and still feel like you’re quietly unraveling. If you’ve ever thought, “I should be able to handle this by now,” while you lie awake replaying a conversation from twelve hours ago, you’re not alone and you’re not broken. We dig into why work stress and work anxiety can hit hardest when you’re the competent one: the person others rely on, the person who keeps things steady, the person who can function under pressure even when it’s costing you more than you realise.

We unpack the hidden pattern of high-functioning stress and the early signs of quiet burnout: checking email before your eyes are fully open, Sunday evening dread, stopping exercise, seeing fewer people, and building ever-more elaborate systems just to keep up. Then we make a crucial distinction that changes the whole story: capability isn’t capacity. Being able to do something does not mean you can keep doing it indefinitely without a cost, and your body often notices that cost long before your professional brain is willing to admit it.

We also challenge a common myth about resilience. Resilience isn’t absorbing more pressure or proving you’re unaffected. Real resilience means noticing, adjusting, responding, and recovering, including saying no and asking for help. To make it practical, we swap “What’s wrong with me?” for “What has changed?” and treat experience as information rather than armor, so you can choose one small change before circumstances force a bigger one.

If this resonates, follow the podcast so the next episode finds you, share it with a friend who always says “leave it with me,” and leave a review to help more people find support for work stress, anxiety, boundaries, and burnout recovery. What’s one thing you could change this week?

Send us Fan Mail

The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers

Support the show

Got feedback, a question, or a future episode suggestion?

https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety

Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®.

Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™

Connect with Cheryl Paris

LinkedIn:
https://go.workstressanxiety.com/linkedin 

Facebook:
https://go.workstressanxiety.com/Facebook

Shared stories are anonymised.

This podcast is provided for educational and self- reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, workplace, or professional advice.

Disclaimer:
https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/

© Cheryl Paris. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.

Resentment can feel ugly, but sometimes it’s your clearest signal that responsibility has started to blur. We share a personal moment that many high-functioning women will recognise: juggling work, study, and life, then getting a seemingly simple request from family that lands like one more demand on an already empty battery. Saying no is the easy part. The hard part is sitting with guilt, disappointment, and the old habit of trying to manage someone else’s reaction.

From there, we connect the dots to work stress, anxiety, and leadership. When you care deeply, you might give clear information but still feel responsible for whether someone accepts it. You might offer support and then quietly take over because watching someone struggle is unbearable. You might set a boundary, then spend the rest of the day preparing your defence as if “no” needs permission. That’s not reliability, it’s emotional over-ownership, and it can turn even the most capable person resentful and exhausted.

We also unpack the story of “Sara,” a 45-year-old team leader who keeps coaching an inconsistent employee until frustration boils over. The key insight is simple and powerful: you can only do your side. We break situations into three parts, your side, their side, and the wider system, then offer a seven-day experiment with four questions to help you find the next fair action without carrying the whole relationship on your back.

If this hits home, subscribe to Work Stress Anxiety, share it with someone who needs a cleaner boundary, and leave a review so more people can find practical support for high-functioning anxiety and burnout. What’s one situation where you’re carrying more than your share?

Send us Fan Mail

The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers

Support the show

Got feedback, a question, or a future episode suggestion?

https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety

Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®.

Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™

Connect with Cheryl Paris

LinkedIn:
https://go.workstressanxiety.com/linkedin 

Facebook:
https://go.workstressanxiety.com/Facebook

Shared stories are anonymised.

This podcast is provided for educational and self- reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, workplace, or professional advice.

Disclaimer:
https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/

© Cheryl Paris. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.