E21. Why Burnout May Be an Inevitable - and Positive! - Developmental Stage for HSPs

A couple months ago I came across some work by a forgotten Polish doctor, psychologist, and poet named Kazimierz Dąbrowski (Ka-ZHI-meerz Dom-BROF-ski) that upended my understanding of my experience with burnout. Dąbrowski believed that HSPs (highly sensitive people) may inevitably experience burnout at some point during their lives, and that it is actually a positive step in their personal development. HSPs experience burnout in an existential way that leads them to question the very foundations of their lives and beliefs - and after they've gone through this dark night of the soul they emerge with a special purpose in society, ready to share what they've learned with others. If you are struggling with any kind of burnout, from mild to severe, this will give you a new way of contextualizing what you are going through. You'll also hear more about my personal experiences trying to treat my anxiety and depression, including with therapy and medication.

You can find this episode's accompanying blog post here.