Episode 6

The Dark Side of Gratitude: How Stress & Burnout Hit Busy Women Who Feel the Pressure to Be Positive

Published on: 23rd September, 2025

If you’ve ever tried to “be positive” while your mental load is stacked to the ceiling, your energy is shot, and your anxiety is buzzing through the roof - this one’s for you.

00:00 — Why forced gratitude adds stress for busy, overwhelmed women

06:15 — Three core patterns behind toxic positivity

09:08 — How toxic positivity increases burnout + emotional overload

18:44 — Five practical stress-relief swaps that actually help

22:10 — Snapping, guilt, and what your emotions are trying to tell you



In this episode of Her Burnout Uncovered, we’re talking about something every overwhelmed woman has felt but rarely says out loud: how gratitude practices and “good vibes only” culture can actually increase stress and burnout.


You’ll hear why forced gratitude often creates more guilt, more pressure, and more emotional exhaustion, especially for busy women who already feel like they’re not doing enough. We’ll talk about how toxic positivity shuts down real emotional health, keeps you out of balance, and blocks the very calm and clarity you’re trying to get back.


You’ll learn simple, grounded ways to flip gratitude into something real, honest, and actually supportive for your stress relief — no fake mantras or spiritual bypassing required.


This episode helps busy, burned-out women release guilt, understand their emotions, and build emotional intelligence that restores energy, calm, and well-being.


KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • Forced gratitude can increase stress and burnout, not fix it.
  • Toxic positivity pushes women to ignore emotions that matter.
  • Your emotions aren’t “too much” — they’re data guiding you back to balance.
  • Real self-care starts with honesty, not pressure to “think positive.”
  • You feel calmer and more in control when you stop silencing yourself.


GET ON THE WAITLIST FOR CLUB CALM!

The membership designed for busy overwhelmed women who want less stress, more energy, and a calmer mental load.


www.alyanderson.com/therefuge



Topics covered: burnout, irritability women’s rage, stress, snapping, guilt, motherhood, marriage, working women, nervous system, honesty, emotional well-being, mental load, anger, resentment, shame, self-care, work-life balance, patience, parenting, mental health, calm, authenticity and setting healthy boundaries to protect your peace.

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About the Podcast

Her Burnout Uncovered | Stress Relief + Time, Energy & Balance Tips for Busy Overwhelmed Women
The world keeps telling women to do more, give more, push harder — and even when it breaks us, they call it “productive.”

Her Burnout Uncovered exposes the truth about the hidden burnout silently draining busy working women and working moms everywhere. It’s the exhaustion you can’t sleep away, the anxiety that won’t turn off, and the self-care routines that never seem to work.

This podcast is for overwhelmed women ready to stop running on fumes and finally reclaim their energy, balance, calm, and confidence.

Each week, Aly Anderson — burnout and stress expert & master coach — brings a mix of science and soul:
• Neuroscience + nervous-system regulation to reduce stress and anxiety
• Human Design to rebuild balance and create routines that fit how you’re wired
• Practical self-care, time-management, and boundary tools for real relief

No toxic positivity. No “hustle-harder” advice.

You’ll get grounded, research-backed strategies for sleep, stress relief, motivation, and energy recovery so you can feel like yourself again — calm, capable, and in control.

These insights apply to every area of life — parenting, marriage, career, friendships, health, and habits.

About your host

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Aly Anderson