Hey, you! I have been thinking, and we need to chat!
You’re juggling it all—business, family, careers, relationships. You’re ambitious, capable, and everyone counts on you to hold it together. Right?
And yet, behind the checklists, calendar reminders, and endless responsibilities…
You feel stuck.
Maybe you’re:
- Constantly running on empty, but slowing down feels impossible
- Setting big goals, but stress or self-doubt keeps creeping in
- Struggling to feel clear, present, or fulfilled—even though “on paper” life looks fine
Let me tell you something that might stop you in your tracks:
This doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means your nervous system is tired.
And it might be responding the only way it knows how—through emotional avoidance.
What Is Emotional Avoidance (And Why Do We All Do It)?
Emotional avoidance is when we push down, numb out, or distract ourselves from feelings that feel too overwhelming to face.
It can look like:
- Throwing yourself into work or perfectionism
- Scrolling, snacking, or staying “busy” to avoid stillness
- Telling yourself “I’m fine,” even when your body says otherwise
Avoiding emotions might feel like self-protection—and in many ways, it is.
Especially if you’ve experienced trauma or chronic stress, emotional avoidance may have once (or many times) helped you survive.
But now, it’s keeping you stuck.
Let’s Talk About Trauma (And Remove the Stigma While We’re at It)
We often think trauma means big, catastrophic events. But in truth, trauma includes anything that overwhelms your ability to cope and leaves you feeling emotionally unsafe or unseen. Don’t come at me I am not using DSM5 definition here, we don’t have to!
Trauma can look like (but not limited to):
- Growing up in a home where emotions weren’t acknowledged
- Always being the “strong one” and never feeling safe to fall apart
- Carrying the mental load of parenting, caregiving, or performance without support
So no—you’re not broken.
You’re responding exactly the way a wise nervous system responds to long-term pressure without relief.
“High-achieving professionals experience depression rates twice the national average—often mislabeling emotional exhaustion as laziness or weakness.”
Psychology Today
How Avoidance Keeps You in Burnout
Avoiding emotions keeps you reactive, not intentional.
It robs you of clarity, connection, and creativity.
The cost?
- Burnout
- Disconnection from your values
- Chronic anxiety, guilt, and the sense that nothing is ever enough
But here’s the good news: you can interrupt the cycle.
It starts with awareness—and simple, doable tools.
Two Tools to Break the Cycle of Emotional Avoidance
1. The 5-Minute Emotional Reset
This tool helps you shift from internal chaos to calm.
Try this:
- Pause and name what you’re feeling (use a feelings wheel if needed)
- Breathe slowly: inhale for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 8
- Ask yourself: What’s one thing I can do right now to support myself?
Research from the APA shows that naming your emotions activates the prefrontal cortex (the part of your brain responsible for regulation), helping you respond more intentionally.
Source – APA
2. The Energy Audit
This tool helps you move from survival mode to aligned action.
Try this at the end of your day:
- List everything you did
- Label each as:
- “E” = Energizing
- “D” = Draining
- Look for patterns. What can you release, delegate, or rework?
This increases emotional awareness and helps you reclaim your time and energy.
Source – Riverbank Therapy
Let me Remind you: Why I Created Mental Summit (personal!)
I created Mental Summit because I lived this cycle.
I had the career. The family. The calendar that looked productive and full.
But inside, I was anxious, disconnected, and exhausted.
I told myself to just keep pushing. I thought if I worked harder, I’d finally feel better.
Instead, I felt burned out and emotionally shut down.
Everything changed when I finally learned to regulate my emotions, build safety within myself, and rewire the belief that I had to hold everything together to be “okay.”
Now I help others do the same.
Why I Created Mental Summit (Professional!) I have helped many clients break this cycle! It is so freeing to walk someone through this process! You don’t have to do it alone and often time therapy is needed to help break this cycle!
How Mental Summit Supports You Differently
The Elevate Membership is for high achievers, parents and individuals who are ready to stop doing it all without support.
Inside, you’ll get:
✔️ Emotional regulation tools that calm your nervous system
✔️ Mindset shifts that make space for change without pressure
✔️ Flexible, realistic goal-setting that works with your life
✔️ A supportive, non-judgmental community that truly gets it
Mental Summit’s mission is to bring emotional wellness into your real life—not just therapy sessions or self-help books.
We give you the tools, structure, and support to finally feel better—not just function better.
Let’s Go Deeper—Listen to the Full Conversation
This week’s episode is still free and available on the Summit to Healing Podcast dives even deeper into emotional avoidance, the trauma connection, and how to get out of autopilot.
🎙️ Listen on Spotify
Hear real stories, simple tools, and encouragement to help you take the next step in your healing.
Your Next Step Starts Now
You don’t need to earn rest.
You don’t need to fix yourself to deserve support.
You just need tools that meet you where you are—and a space that understands what you’re carrying.
Explore the Elevate Membership today at mymentalsummit.com.
Because emotional wellness isn’t a luxury.
It’s your foundation—and you deserve it.