Feeling drained, stuck, or questioning everything in your life? You’re not alone, and it’s a challenge many face in midlife. In this episode, we dive deep into understanding the overlap between two powerful experiences: burnout and the midlife crisis. Both can shake up your life in big ways, but how do you know which one you’re dealing with—or if you’re facing both?

Tune in to discover:

• The key differences between a midlife crisis and burnout, and how each uniquely impacts your energy, mindset, and motivation.
• How these experiences can occur together, intensifying feelings of exhaustion, self-doubt, and urgency to change.
• Practical, step-by-step strategies for navigating both challenges at once, from reclaiming your energy to finding clarity on your next steps.

If you’re in your 40s or 50s and feeling overwhelmed by stress or existential questions, this episode offers valuable insights and actionable advice. Whether you’re seeking renewed purpose or simply need a breather from burnout, we’ll guide you on the path to clarity, growth, and well-being.

Host Bio: Shannon is a psychologist driven by a deep passion for empowering individuals with the essential mental health knowledge & skills needed to flourish. She guides them through a transformative journey from chronically stressed & burnt-out states to a state of overall wellness. Her commitment to this cause is rooted in personal experience, having traversed the challenging terrain of burnout herself. Shannon's odyssey has imbued her with a renewed perspective, enabling her to approach her career & the care of others with a more balanced & empathetic mindset. Join Shannon on this inspirational journey as she shares her transformative experiences & valuable insights, fostering a message of growth through adversity, collective & self-care, & the triumph of well-being.

W: www.burnoutpsychologysupport.com

Book: Nothing Left to Give: A Psychologist's Path Back www.burnoutpsychologysupport.com/buy-my-book

Blog: Lessons From a Burnt Out Psychologist www.burnoutpsychologysupport.com/blog

Social Media: @burnoutpsychologysupport

Membership: Thriving Beyond Burnout Membership for Midlife Women Join WAITLIST for 2025 Launch - www.burnoutpsychologysupport.com/thrive-beyond-burnout

Be a guest: If you’d like to share your burnout experience or are an expert in the field of burnout, please email shannonswales@burnoutpsychologysupport.com.

Disclaimer: Engaging with our content does not intend to create, nor does it create a therapist-client relationship between you & Shannon Swales. The views, opinions, tips, etc., expressed in this podcast by my guests or Shannon are general and are not a replacement for personalised therapy. We encourage those suffering to seek professional help. If you are in a life-threatening emergency, get in touch with your emergency services, in Australia, 000. For immediate counselling support (Aus only), Lifeline 13 11 14 (24/7); 13YARN 13 92 76 (24/7) for First Nation Australians.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I sat down with Michael Coles, a 49-yr-old autistic man, married, father of 2, & a podcaster. Michael shares his powerful story of experiencing autistic burnout, offering insights into what contributed to it, how he recovered, & how he now works to support his mental health & well-being. We explore key topics like people-pleasing, ableism, workplace accommodations, at-home support, the power of authenticity, & compassionate support from others. It is a must-listen for anyone who is autistic or who wants to better understand the unique challenges autistic individuals face & the real risk of burnout.

Guest Bio: Having been diagnosed 3 times, first with PDD-NOS back when he was 3, then diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome at 35, then rediagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in 2017, he has been struggling with high levels of anxiety & stress his whole life. Late last year, he was hospitalised as a result of chronic stress from changes being imposed on him, due to a change in staff members, & their non-acceptance of Michael’s way of working, which previously was going well with accepting staff members. As a result, he needed to resign from his job, & now, through the NDIS, he can access therapies not previously available to Michael. Also, recently diagnosed with Expressive & Receptive Language Disorder.

W: http://www.deepdiveau.net

IG/Tiktok - @thedeepdiveau (& @michaelcoles3 Tiktok)

YouTube – http://www.youtube.com/@thedeepdiveau

Links to Michael’s Guest Spots on other podcasts – http://linktr.ee/michaelcoles

Host Bio: Shannon is a psychologist driven by a deep passion for empowering individuals with the essential mental health knowledge & skills needed to flourish. She guides them through a transformative journey from chronically stressed & burnt-out states to a state of overall wellness. Her commitment to this cause is rooted in personal experience, having traversed the challenging terrain of burnout herself. Shannon's odyssey has imbued her with a renewed perspective, enabling her to approach her career & the care of others with a more balanced & empathetic mindset. Join Shannon on this inspirational journey as she shares her transformative experiences & valuable insights, fostering a message of resilience, collective & self-care, & the triumph of well-being.

W: www.burnoutpsychologysupport.com

Book: Nothing Left to Give: A Psychologist's Path Back www.burnoutpsychologysupport.com/buy-my-book

Blog: Lessons From a Burnt Out Psychologist www.burnoutpsychologysupport.com/blog

Social Media: @burnoutpsychologysupport

Membership: Thriving Beyond Burnout Membership for Midlife Women www.burnoutpsychologysupport.com/thrive-beyond-burnout

Be a guest: If you’d like to share your burnout experience or are an expert in the field of burnout, please email shannonswales@burnoutpsychologysupport.com.

Disclaimer: Engaging with our content does not intend to create, nor does it create a therapist-client relationship between you & Shannon Swales. The views, opinions, tips, etc., expressed in this podcast by my guests or Shannon are general and are not a replacement for personalised therapy. We encourage those suffering to seek professional help. If you are in a life-threatening emergency, get in touch with your emergency services, in Australia, 000. For immediate counselling support (Aus only), Lifeline 13 11 14 (24/7); 13YARN 13 92 76 (24/7) for First Nation Australians.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this solo episode, host Shannon Swales explores Burnout Growth, a transformative approach to recovering from burnout and creating lasting change. Drawing from Nick Petrie’s research and her own experiences, Shannon contrasts the paths of "bouncing back" versus "bouncing forward" after burnout.

Key topics include:

• What Burnout Growth is and how it differs from simple recovery
• The four potential outcomes after burnout, from Post-Traumatic Stress to Post-Traumatic Growth
• Practical strategies for turning burnout into an opportunity for meaningful growth, like reflection, new challenges, and building healthy habits
• 
  

This episode is packed with actionable insights to help you break the burnout cycle and thrive.

Key Takeaways:

• Understand the difference between "bouncing back" and "bouncing forward"
• Learn how deeper reflection and intentional change can help break the burnout cycle
• Explore practical steps you can take today to foster long-term growth and resilience

Resources:

• Nick Petrie’s research on burnout and growth https://nicholaspetrie.com/
• Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily and Amelia Nagoski
• Shannon's memoir, Nothing Left to Give: A Psychologist's Path Back from Burnout

Tune in to start transforming burnout into lasting growth!

Host Bio: Shannon Swales, is a psychologist driven by a deep passion to empower individuals with the essential mental health knowledge & skills needed to flourish. She guides them through a transformative journey from chronically stressed & burnt-out states to a state of overall wellness. Her commitment to this cause is rooted in personal experience, having traversed the challenging terrain of burnout herself. Shannon's odyssey has imbued her with a renewed perspective, enabling her to approach her career & the care of others with a more balanced & empathetic mindset. Join Shannon on this inspirational journey as she shares her transformative experiences & valuable insights, fostering a message of resilience, self-care, & the triumph of well-being.

Connect with Shannon's work via

www.burnoutpsychologysupport.com/contact, by reading her burnout memoir - Nothing Left to Give: A Psychologist's Path Back www.burnoutpsychologysupport.com/buy-my-book, exploring her blog - 'Lessons From a Burnt Out Psychologist' - www.burnoutpsychologysupport.com/blog, or social media pages @burnoutpsychologysupport or her latest Thriving Beyond Burnout Membership for Midlife Women www.burnoutpsychologysupport.com/thriving-beyond-burnout

Share Your Experience: If you’d like to share your burnout experience or are an expert in the field of burnout & would like to share your wisdom on the pod, please email me at shannonswales@burnoutpsychologysupport.com.

Disclaimer: Engaging with our content does not intend to create, nor does it create a therapist-client relationship between you & Shannon Swales, Burnout Psychology Support Psychologist. The views, opinions, tips, etc., expressed in this podcast by my guests or me are general in nature and are not a replacement for personalised therapy. As I have done for myself, I encourage those suffering to seek professional help. If you are in a life-threatening emergency, please get in touch with your emergency services in Australia, 000. For immediate counselling support (Aus only), Lifeline 13 11 14 (24 hrs/7 days); 13YARN 13 92 76 (24 hrs/7 days) for First Nation Australians.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Denis Belicki, a clinical psychologist with over 40 yrs of experience. His impressive career has spanned forensic psychology, private practice with his wife, & his current role as a digital nomad, providing remote therapy to healthcare professionals. Dr. Belicki has dedicated much of his work to supporting emergency first responders, veterans, physicians, & nurses who face many mental health challenges working in high-stress environments.

We explore the profound impact burnout is having on the medical profession & why it’s crucial to care for those who dedicate their lives to caring for others.

Key points include:

1. The toll burnout is taking on physicians & nurses, & how it's affecting the healthcare profession as a whole

2. What doctors & nurses can do to protect their well-being & manage burnout

3. The structural changes needed to better support healthcare professionals

4. A vital message: if we don’t care for our caregivers, there may come a time when no one is left to care for us.

This is a critical episode not only for healthcare workers but also for any government or non-government organisation with the power to make changes. Our health professionals need structural support, & change is needed NOW.

Before tuning in, please note that this EP includes discussions of suicide, so take care if this is a difficult topic for you. Please see below for further information regarding connecting with mental health support.

Tune in to this important conversation, & join us in shining a light on the urgent need to care for our caregivers.

Host: Shannon Swales

A clinical psychologist driven by a deep passion to empower individuals with the essential mental health knowledge & skills needed to flourish. She guides them through a transformative journey from chronically stressed & burnt-out states to a state of overall wellness. Her commitment to this cause is rooted in personal experience, having traversed the challenging terrain of burnout. Her odyssey has imbued her with a renewed perspective, enabling her to approach her career & the care of others with a more balanced & empathetic mindset.

Contact Details

Connect with Shannon Swales directly via www.burnoutpsychologysupport.com/contact, by reading her burnout memoir - Nothing Left to Give: A Psychologist's Path Back www.burnoutpsychologysupport.com/buy-my-book, exploring her blog - 'Lessons From a Burnt Out Psychologist' - www.burnoutpsychologysupport.com/blog, or social media pages @burnoutpsychologysupport

Interested in Thrive Beyond Burnout Membership for Midlife Women go to www.burnoutpsychologysupport.com/thrive-beyond-burnout

Share Your Story/Expertise: If you’d like to share your burnout experience or are an expert in the field of burnout and would like to share your wisdom on the pod, please email me at shannonswales@burnoutpsychologysupport.com.

Disclaimer: Engaging with our content does not intend to create, nor does it create a therapist-client relationship between you and Shannon Swales, Burnout Psychology Support Psychologist. The views, opinions, tips, etc., expressed in this podcast by my guests or me are general in nature and are not a replacement for personalised therapy. As I have done for myself, I encourage those suffering to seek professional help. If you are in a life-threatening emergency, please get in touch with your emergency services in Australia, 000. For immediate counselling support (Aus only), Lifeline 13 11 14 (24 hrs/7 days); 13YARN 13 92 76 (24 hrs/7 days) for First Nation Australians.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this solo episode of When Burnout Becomes Reality, Shannon takes you through everything you need to know about mindfulness and its role in overcoming burnout. Discover the essentials of mindfulness and how it can help manage stress and restore balance in your life.

Key Topics Covered:

• Understanding Mindfulness: Learn what mindfulness is and how being present can alleviate burnout.
• Mindfulness and Neurodiversity: Explore how mindfulness practices can be adapted to support neurodivergent individuals in managing stress.
• Practical Tips: Get actionable advice on incorporating mindfulness into your daily routine to enhance well-being.
• Guided Practice: Participate in a mindfulness exercise led by Shannon to experience the benefits firsthand.

Mindful Check In Exercise: Download for free at https://www.burnoutpsychologysupport.com/resources

Tune in to find out how mindfulness can transform your approach to burnout and support your journey to a more balanced, energised life.

Host Bio

Shannon Swales, is a psychologist driven by a deep passion to empower individuals with the essential mental health knowledge & skills needed to flourish. She guides them through a transformative journey from chronically stressed & burnt-out states to a state of overall wellness. Her commitment to this cause is rooted in personal experience, having traversed the challenging terrain of burnout herself. Shannon's odyssey has imbued her with a renewed perspective, enabling her to approach her career & the care of others with a more balanced & empathetic mindset. Join Shannon on this inspirational journey as she shares her transformative experiences & valuable insights, fostering a message of resilience, self-care, & the triumph of well-being. Connect with Shannon's work via www.burnoutpsychologysupport.com/contact, by reading her burnout memoir - Nothing Left to Give: A Psychologist's Path Back www.burnoutpsychologysupport.com/buy-my-book, exploring her blog - 'Lessons From a Burnt Out Psychologist' - www.burnoutpsychologysupport.com/blog, or social media pages @burnoutpsychologysupport

Share Your Experience: If you’d like to share your burnout experience or are an expert in the field of burnout & would like to share your wisdom on the pod, please email me at shannonswales@burnoutpsychologysupport.com.

Disclaimer: Engaging with our content does not intend to create, nor does it create a therapist-client relationship between you & Shannon Swales, Burnout Psychology Support Psychologist. The views, opinions, tips, etc., expressed in this podcast by my guests or me are general in nature and are not a replacement for personalised therapy. As I have done for myself, I encourage those suffering to seek professional help. If you are in a life-threatening emergency, please get in touch with your emergency services in Australia, 000. For immediate counselling support (Aus only), Lifeline 13 11 14 (24 hrs/7 days); 13YARN 13 92 76 (24 hrs/7 days) for First Nation Australians.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Michelle, a passionate and driven woman across all areas of life, shares her burnout journey through two careers: first as a social worker in Australia’s child protection sector, and later as an entrepreneur.

Key insights:

• How passion and drive, without personal boundaries, inevitably lead to burnout.
• Setting aside time for deep reflection to assess what is and isn’t working in your work and personal life, followed by the courage to make necessary changes.
• The power of tuning into and honouring your energy levels to create a more sustainable, thriving way of living.

Guest: Michelle Gardiner

The Founder and Director of The Aspire Series, including Aspire Société, the Aspire Summit and 55 FACES. These are both a movement for women who are dedicated to pioneering social change and impact as well as a methodology in facilitating change work. Michelle has spent over fifteen years working in the Australian Child Protection and community sectors, supporting children, young people and families through some of their most vulnerable life experiences. Through hearing many life stories, Michelle became most passionate about raising the aspirations of young people and women, which has greatly inspired her work with The Aspire Series. This passion parallels Michelle’s own experiences of working hard to define her own voice and to use this to build a life that she, too, is proud of.

Michelle holds a Bachelor of Social and Community Welfare, Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Science (Child Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy), Yoga Teacher, Certified Life Coach, background in individual and collective narrative work, leadership and empowerment program facilitation and trauma informed practice. Michelle is a published co-author, Non-For-Profit Board Member and is undertaking her Masters in Narrative Therapy and Community Work.

Michelle lives in Melbourne, Australia and is enthused by dance, yoga, cooking, chasing the sun, exploring and learning about people, arts and culture.

Website: https://www.theaspireseries.com Social Media: @theaspireseries

Host: Shannon Swales

A psychologist driven by a deep passion to empower individuals with the essential mental health knowledge and skills needed to flourish. She guides them through a transformative journey from chronically stressed and burnt-out states to a state of overall wellness. Her commitment to this cause is rooted in personal experience, having traversed the challenging terrain of burnout, compassion fatigue, and vicarious trauma herself. Shannon's personal odyssey has imbued her with a renewed perspective, enabling her to approach her career and the care of others with a more balanced and empathetic mindset.

Website: www.burnoutpsychologysupport.com

Book: Nothing Left to Give www.burnoutpsychologysupport.com/buy-my-book

Blog: www.burnoutpsychologysupport.com/blog

Social media: @burnoutpsychologysupport

Share Your Wisdom: If you’d like to share your burnout experience or are an expert in the field of burnout and would like to share your wisdom on the pod, email me at shannonswales@burnoutpsychologysupport.com.

Disclaimer: Engaging with our content does not intend to create, nor does it create a therapist-client relationship between you and Shannon Swales, Burnout Psychology Support Psychologist. The views, opinions, tips, etc., expressed in this podcast by my guests or me are general in nature and are not a replacement for personalised therapy. As I have done for myself, I encourage those suffering to seek professional help. If you are in a life-threatening emergency, please get in touch with your emergency services in Australia, 000. For immediate counselling support (Aus only), Lifeline 13 11 14 (24 hrs/7 days); 13YARN 13 92 76 (24 hrs/7 days) for First Nation Australians.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Solo episode of When Burnout Becomes Reality, we're diving deep into a question many of us wrestle with: "Am I Getting Better?" Burnout can cloud our judgment, making it hard to see our progress clearly. Our brains tend to fixate on the negative when we're stressed, anxious, or feeling down, which can skew our self-assessment. We'll explore why measuring burnout is crucial, not just relying on our subjective perceptions. From scientifically proven methods to practical tips, we'll uncover how regular measurement can boost confidence, highlight improvements, and identify areas needing attention. Join us as we discuss how to get a clearer, more accurate picture of your burnout recovery journey.

Host Bio

Shannon Swales, is a psychologist driven by a deep passion to empower individuals with the essential mental health knowledge & skills needed to flourish. She guides them through a transformative journey from chronically stressed & burnt-out states to a state of overall wellness. Her commitment to this cause is rooted in personal experience, having traversed the challenging terrain of burnout herself. Shannon's odyssey has imbued her with a renewed perspective, enabling her to approach her career & the care of others with a more balanced & empathetic mindset. Join Shannon on this inspirational journey as she shares her transformative experiences & valuable insights, fostering a message of resilience, self-care, & the triumph of well-being. Connect with Shannon's work via www.burnoutpsychologysupport.com/contact, by reading her burnout memoir - Nothing Left to Give: A Psychologist's Path Back www.burnoutpsychologysupport.com/buy-my-book, exploring her blog - 'Lessons From a Burnt Out Psychologist' - www.burnoutpsychologysupport.com/blog, or social media pages @burnoutpsychologysupport

Share Your Experience: If you’d like to share your burnout experience or are an expert in the field of burnout & would like to share your wisdom on the pod, please email me at shannonswales@burnoutpsychologysupport.com.

Disclaimer: Engaging with our content does not intend to create, nor does it create a therapist-client relationship between you & Shannon Swales, Burnout Psychology Support Psychologist. The views, opinions, tips, etc., expressed in this podcast by my guests or me are general in nature and are not a replacement for personalised therapy. As I have done for myself, I encourage those suffering to seek professional help. If you are in a life-threatening emergency, please get in touch with your emergency services in Australia, 000. For immediate counselling support (Aus only), Lifeline 13 11 14 (24 hrs/7 days); 13YARN 13 92 76 (24 hrs/7 days) for First Nation Australians.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Introducing Ep and Guest, Daniel Ewers

16+ yrs in the business world, Chartered accountant & CFO. Daniel reached the pinnacle of that career at age 29. Life on the surface seemed perfect, but what he didn’t realise was that he was right on the edge of a 4 yr burnout & recovery - cued by a huge panic attack in 2019. During this burnout or what he calls a cocktail of depression & PTSD, Daniel heavily researched the subject areas of epigenetics, accelerated learning, wellness, neuroscience, positive psychology, & human potential before discovering the art & the love of coaching. After 70+ books, 1000+ podcasts, and likely 70,000 rabbit holes of knowledge & self-experimentation, he finally put the deep exhaustion & recovered from burnout. This experience was so severe for Daniel he called it a 'spiritual dislocation' - an erosion of the human soul. “I believe I went through this experience so others don't have to.” ~ Daniel Ewers. Join us to explore Daniel's story & gain valuable insights into recognising burnout, understanding its causes, & taking steps toward recovery. Learn from Daniel how to navigate significant changes in career, self, & life. Daniel is now on a mission to not only help others recover from and ideally prevent burnout, but to go a step beyond - high performance - which he calls an adventure to excellence. Through high performance coaching, Daniel has, now, found his true passion in the world, where he reinforces people (who they are & what they do) while teaching them world-class high-performance principles. Daniel’s coaching & ethos amplifies clients into the feeling of confidence, full-engagement, & the joy of being their absolute best. To connect with Daniel go to https://www.adventuretoexcellence.com/

Host Bio

Shannon Swales, is a psychologist driven by a deep passion to empower individuals with the essential mental health knowledge & skills needed to flourish. She guides them through a transformative journey from chronically stressed & burnt-out states to a state of overall wellness. Her commitment to this cause is rooted in personal experience, having traversed the challenging terrain of burnout herself. Shannon's odyssey has imbued her with a renewed perspective, enabling her to approach her career & the care of others with a more balanced & empathetic mindset. Join Shannon on this inspirational journey as she shares her transformative experiences & valuable insights, fostering a message of resilience, self-care, & the triumph of well-being. Connect with Shannon's work via www.burnoutpsychologysupport.com/contact, by reading her burnout memoir - Nothing Left to Give: A Psychologist's Path Back www.burnoutpsychologysupport.com/buy-my-book, exploring her blog - 'Lessons From a Burnt Out Psychologist' - www.burnoutpsychologysupport.com/blog, or social media pages @burnoutpsychologysupport

Share Your Experience: If you’d like to share your burnout experience or are an expert in the field of burnout & would like to share your wisdom on the pod, please email me at shannonswales@burnoutpsychologysupport.com.

Disclaimer: Engaging with our content does not intend to create, nor does it create a therapist-client relationship between you & Shannon Swales, Burnout Psychology Support Psychologist. The views, opinions, tips, etc., expressed in this podcast by my guests or me are general in nature and are not a replacement for personalised therapy. As I have done for myself, I encourage those suffering to seek professional help. If you are in a life-threatening emergency, please get in touch with your emergency services in Australia, 000. For immediate counselling support (Aus only), Lifeline 13 11 14 (24 hrs/7 days); 13YARN 13 92 76 (24 hrs/7 days) for First Nation Australians.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.