I Almost Didn’t Do This… And It Nearly Cost Me Everything

I almost didn’t ask for help.

Not because I didn’t need it. I desperately did.

But I believed that needing help meant I had failed. That if I could just keep pushing through, everything would somehow go back to normal.

From the outside, everything looked fine. I was in a new leadership role. I was managing a team, taking on projects, hosting Sunday dinners. I showed up like I always had. Competent. Capable. Reliable.

But behind the scenes? I was quietly falling apart.

Fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, panic, chronic pain. There were days I couldn’t lift my head. Days I was bed-bound. I couldn’t cook, couldn’t think clearly, couldn’t find words for everyday objects. I couldn’t stand bright lights or handle background noise.

I had to make hard choices about how to spend my energy because I didn't have the energy for both: Showering or having a conversation with my friend. 

And still, I kept going.

I told myself:

• “You should be able to handle this.”

• “Other people have it worse.”

• “You can’t let anyone down.”

• 
  

I had convinced myself that pushing through was strength and to be real - the shame of not keeping going really kept me stuck in the burnout cycle - I felt too bad - too bad to reach out for support, too bad not to support my team and lead important projects, too bad to be a burdon to anyone else.

So I kept going - putting on a front.

But pushing through was survival.

And survival isn’t sustainable. Not when it costs you your health and ultimately your life: your relationships, your social world, your happiness.

The Hidden Reality of High-Functioning Burnout

Many of the high-achieving, empathic women I work with are in this exact position. You’re the one people rely on. You’re the leader. The problem-solver. The strong one.

But internally? You’re depleted. Anxious. Exhausted. Disconnected from yourself. Trapped in a cycle of performance and pressure that never lets up.

This is what high-functioning burnout often looks like:

• You’re still performing at work, but collapsing at home.

• You’re emotionally supporting everyone else, but suffering in silence.

• You’re holding it together on the outside while quietly falling apart inside.

And most people around you have no idea how bad it really is.

Why I Almost Didn’t Ask for Help

I was wired to keep going. Conditioned to push through. Afraid that if I slowed down, everything would fall apart.

But what I didn’t realise was—everything was already falling apart. Silently. Systemically.

Inside of me.

When I finally said, "I can't do this alone anymore, “Something has got to change!”

I was scared. But I was also willing. And that willingness changed everything.

What Changed When I Got Support and Supported Myself from the Root 

The first thing I learned was that healing is not about fixing what’s broken. It’s about creating a new system that supports who you are and how you want to live.

Through nervous system regulation, subconscious reprogramming, and deep emotional work, I rebuilt from the inside out.

Today, my life and business reflect my values. I work in a way that supports my energy. I trust myself again. I lead with clarity. I live with freedom. To be honest i've put this lightly my life is so different to how it used to be and I am grateful everyday that I made a change and started the process.

And I want the same for you.

You Don’t Have to Break to Be Allowed to Heal

If you're holding it all together on the outside but falling apart inside, this is your sign. Not to do more. But to do it differently.

You don’t need to justify how bad it is. You don’t need to wait until it gets worse. And you don’t need to prove your worth by pushing through pain.

Support is not a luxury. It’s a necessity.

This is your moment to choose a new way.

One where success doesn’t cost you your health. Where you feel calm, clear, and emotionally free. Where you can lead without abandoning yourself.

Ready to Start?

If you’re curious about what that could look like, I invite you to explore The Freedom Formula™. It’s my signature 1-1 method for creating deep, lasting change at the root.

Take the first step to book a Connection Call.

This is where everything changes.

With love, Emma.