There's a particular moment many of us know well — when everything feels like too much. Not dramatically, but quietly, heavily, relentlessly. You're still functioning, still showing up, but inside, something is fraying. And the most painful part? The story you tell yourself about it: I should be able to handle this.

In this episode, we explore why overwhelm isn't a personal failure — it's a predictable outcome when multiple vulnerabilities align. Using insights from the Swiss Cheese Model and Paul Gilbert's three emotional systems, we unpack why your nervous system can't "just cope" when recovery is structurally unavailable.

This isn't about becoming stronger. It's about understanding why one small change can still matter — even when everything feels impossible.

We'll explore:

• Why overwhelm is rarely about one thing — it's an accumulation of pressures that align
• How the Swiss Cheese Model explains why burnout happens when recovery becomes impossible
• The three emotional systems (Threat, Drive, and Soothing) and why modern life keeps two constantly activated
• Why your nervous system needs recovery cycles, not just more willpower
• How one small change can close one vulnerability — and why that matters
• Why resistance to small changes is often a sign of how depleted you are

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