What happens when proving you’re “enough” means pushing yourself to the point of exhaustion? In this episode of Use Your Fear, Michelle and Whitney dig into the burnout that comes from constantly overdoing — and the fear of being “too much” for others to handle.

We talk about emotional fatigue, using alcohol or busyness to cope, and the shame that creeps in when you’ve been told to shrink or stay small. Plus, we share stories of rock bottoms, recovery, and learning to choose rest and boundaries over self-sacrifice.

✨ Reflection questions in this episode: How much of my doing is still about proving? Who benefits when I silence myself — and who suffers when I do?

What would it feel like to stop shrinking — and just be? If you’ve ever felt like you're running on empty or too much to handle — you’re not broken. You’re just tired. And you’re allowed to stop.

🎧 Listen, share, and stay in the questions with us.

#UseYourFear #AmIEnoughSeries #PodcastEpisode #Burnout #Sobriety #TooMuch #PeoplePleasing #FearAndRecovery

🎙️Referenced in the episode:

📖 The Games Gods Play - Abigail Owen - https://abigailowen.com/

📖 This Naked Mind - Annie Grace - https://thisnakedmind.com

📖 Codependent No More - Melody Beattie - https://www.melodybeattie.com/codependentnomore

📖 Driven to Distraction M.D. Edward M Hallowell & M.D. John Ratey - https://drhallowell.com/read/books-by-ned/

📖 Unwinding Anxiety - Judson Brewer MD PhD - https://drjud.com/book/

🧘🏼‍♀️ Grounding Techniques - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CPP96ZKF?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

🧘🏼‍♀️ Check in with Yourself - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DFQ4MM6L?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

🛜 Reddit r/stopdrinking - https://www.reddit.com/r/stopdrinking/

🎗️AA - https://www.aa.org/

🎗️Al Anon - https://al-anon.org/al-anon-meetings/find-an-al-anon-meeting/

🎗️CODA - https://coda.org/find-a-meeting/

🛜 Patreon - https://patreon.com/UseYourFearPodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

🛜 useyourfear.com

What happens when being “enough” starts to depend on being useful, needed, or perfect? In this episode of Use Your Fear, Michelle and Whitney unpack how imposter syndrome, fear of rejection, and codependency can twist our sense of self-worth.

We talk about the pressure to prove our value, the fear of being exposed as a fraud, and the exhausting cycle of overachieving for validation. Plus, we share personal stories of times we sought approval instead of authenticity — and what it cost.

✨ Reflection questions in this episode:

• When do I most feel like a fraud — and what triggers that?
• Who benefits when I keep believing I’m not enough?
• What would it mean to stop proving and start belonging?

If you’ve ever felt like you don’t belong, even when you’ve done the work — you’re not alone. And you’re not a fraud. You’re just human.

🎧 Listen, share, and stay in the questions with us.

Welcome to the very first episode of Use Your Fear! In this premiere, hosts Michelle and Whitney sit down to dive deep into one of the most universal and paralyzing fears: the fear of not being enough. Through honest conversation, personal stories, and thoughtful reflection, we explore where this fear comes from, how it shows up in our lives, and how we can begin to shift our relationship with it. Whether you’ve wrestled with imposter syndrome, perfectionism, or self-doubt, this episode is for you.

Because sometimes the thing you're most afraid of is exactly where the transformation begins.