In this fast-paced world that we live in, most of us are constantly busy. And the worst part is we’re proud of it like it’s a badge of honor. We think that it’s a gold standard that everyone must live up to just to make ourselves look good. But the truth is, when we experience burnout, bad things happen to our bodies. In this episode, we are going to explore body burnout with our guest, Filipa Bellette.

Meet the expert

Filipa Bellette is the Co-Founder of Chris & Filly Functional Medicine. They are best known for ending body burnout in busy people with energy, mood, and gut issues. Her practice is the Telstra Best of Business Awards 2022 State Winner & National Finalist, and the Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards 2022 National Winner. Her work and expert advice has been featured in media such as Forbes, nine.com.au & Body+Soul.

With her husband, Chris Bellette, she has worked with over 2,000+ burned-out clients in the last 10 years, with her passion for Mummy burnout coming from her own personal experience of anxiety and body breakdown after she had her first baby.

So where does it all start?

The root cause for most of us women is culture. We have this belief that women should be the caregivers at home while still working to support the family. Some even believe that we have little worth if we just stay at home.

This leads us to feel like we are never complete or are never doing enough for our family and kids, feeling like we always have to choose between our family and our passion. And in the midst of trying to do everything, this is where “busy” happens.

You’ll know when you burn out when it’s getting harder and harder to sleep at night and you experience physiological imbalances.

Signs you already need help

When assessing burnout, consider both behavioral and physical indicators. Behaviourally, if you feel constantly rushed or guilty about unfinished tasks, or if relaxation feels elusive even during leisure times, these are early signs of stress. These behavioural symptoms often precede physical ones.

Physically, common signs of burnout include energy, mood, and gut issues. Early symptoms might be fatigue, brain fog, or mood changes like increased irritability. Advanced symptoms can range from anxiety and depression to gut problems, hormonal imbalances, and even early signs of autoimmune conditions.

Gut health and adrenal fatigue

If you are not yet aware, issues like bloating, constipation, or other stomach problems can be linked to mental stress and burnout. Improving gut health can potentially alleviate some mental strains, and vice versa.

Adrenal fatigue is when the adrenal glands struggle to manage stress hormones. Normally, cortisol increases with stress and DHEA balances it. Chronic stress, from various sources, can deplete DHEA, letting cortisol run high. This imbalance can harm the body. Saliva tests help diagnose the condition by tracking hormone levels throughout the day.

If you notice these signs, it’s crucial to address the underlying issues, as they indicate your body is constantly in a stress response mode.

How to Avoid Burnout

When considering stress, especially in our little ones, it’s essential to determine if the cause is physical or metaphysical. Physical causes relate to nutrition and environment, while metaphysical concerns thoughts, beliefs, and nervous system regulation.

Kids are highly receptive, so their diet can significantly impact their stress levels. Aside from diet, it’s also crucial to understand the deeper emotional and belief-based triggers of stress. Filipa experienced this firsthand when her daughter felt unlovable due to a past event, which affected her reactions to current situations. Addressing and challenging these deep-seated beliefs can help alleviate stress.

Sometimes it also helps to surround ourselves with positive people who make us feel good. On a personal level, Jo has joined a slow runner group. Rather than joining or following athletes on social media who can outrun me constantly, which can make me feel insecure at times. I have surrounded myself with people who have given me permission to run a marathon without worrying about how fast I did it. And it makes me feel good.

This can also apply to social media. Stop following people who can trigger you or make you unhappy with yourself. Stop trying to please people. You can say NO!

So make sure to take care of your stress levels, as your mental health can manifest physically, and vice versa. If you enjoyed this episode, please make sure to check out our other episodes and share this with anyone who you think is experiencing burnout. We also encourage you to leave a review so we can improve our show even further.

For more info on Filipa Bellette and Chris & Filly Functional Medicine, including Filipa’s new book Ending Body Burnout, head here:

Website (you can even take their free burnout test)
Instagram
Facebook
Podcast Show
YouTube

Much love,
Jo & Tracey x