The Adversity Advantage with Doug Bopst #1 Burnout Expert: How To Cure Brain Fog & Reverse Exhaustion | Dr. Claire Plumbly
Sep 6, 2025
Dr. Claire Plumbley, founder of Plum Psychology and an expert in burnout and stress management, discusses the alarming burnout epidemic and its connection to trauma. She reveals what brain fog truly is and how it affects our cognition. Claire emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and community support in overcoming exhaustion. She also offers practical strategies to regain energy, underscores the necessity of compassionate decision-making, and debunks myths surrounding burnout, advocating for holistic recovery and self-compassion.
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Productivity Tied To Self-Worth
- Our culture ties self-worth to productivity, which drives people to never rest properly.
- This fuels burnout because people only rest to be more productive, not for enjoyment or replenishment.
Small Traumas Add Up To Burnout
- Past trauma, including 'little t' events, accumulates and compresses the nervous system like a squeezy ball.
- That compression creates 'insecure striving' (people-pleasing, perfectionism, avoidance) that sustains burnout.
Tune Into Your Body First
- Start tuning into bodily signals by asking "What does my body need right now?" and respond gently to those cues.
- Use gentle movement and small, kind steps to "thaw out" a closed-down nervous system.
