In this episode, Avery sits down with Dr. Laura Miles, a physician who transitioned from a career in ophthalmology to functional medicine after experiencing severe burnout. Dr. Miles shares her personal journey of juggling a demanding career, raising two children, and the eventual realization that she was suffering from burnout—a condition she initially didn't recognize.

Dr. Miles delves into the physical and emotional toll burnout took on her, recounting the moment she realized something had to change. She explains how she discovered functional medicine and how it helped her address the root causes of her exhaustion, including adrenal fatigue. Avery and Dr. Miles discuss the importance of recognizing early signs of burnout, the role of stress management, and how to effectively implement boundaries and lifestyle changes to achieve long-term health and well-being.

Episode Highlights:

[00:05] - Introduction to the Episode

• Avery introduces Laura, expressing excitement for the conversation and highlighting the value of sharing personal stories.

[00:36] - Laura's Journey as a High Achiever

• Laura shares her background as a physician and a busy mother. She discusses how her demanding lifestyle led her to juggle multiple responsibilities, eventually leading to stress and burnout.

[01:43] - Recognizing Burnout Symptoms

• Laura details the physical and emotional signs of burnout she experienced, including exhaustion, irritability, memory lapses, and word inversions.

[03:10] - Misdiagnosing Burnout

• Laura explains how she initially failed to recognize her symptoms as burnout and sought help for what she believed were physical ailments, only to be told she was fine.

[04:01] - The Turning Point

• A critical moment when Laura realized the severity of her situation: she had to leave a sticky note on her dashboard to remember to pick up her kids. This incident motivated her to take action.

[05:41] - Understanding Adrenal Fatigue

• Laura introduces the concept of adrenal fatigue, explaining the role of the adrenal glands in stress response and how prolonged stress can lead to adrenal burnout.

[07:06] - Testing for Adrenal Fatigue

• Discussion on how traditional medical tests often miss adrenal fatigue and the importance of using salivary tests and other methods to accurately diagnose the condition.

[08:49] - Strategies for Overcoming Burnout

• Laura shares the multifactorial approach she took to recover, including stress management, targeted supplements, and setting boundaries.

[12:40] - Early Warning Signs of Burnout

• Laura discusses the importance of recognizing early signs of burnout and how she now manages stress by regularly assessing her workload and boundaries.

[15:28] - Laura's Career Transition

• Laura describes how her personal health crisis led her to discover functional medicine, which eventually became her new career path. She now runs a successful functional medicine practice.

[17:57] - Resources and Final Thoughts

• Laura provides information on where listeners can find more about her work, including her website and courses on understanding lab work and optimizing health.

Guest Links:

Website: www.lauramilesmd.com