Burnout isn’t about working too many hours. And imposter syndrome isn’t a confidence problem.
In this episode, I sit down with Garrett Wood, clinical hypnotherapist, executive functioning specialist, and founder of Gnosis Therapy, to unpack what’s really happening beneath burnout, high masking, and the boom-and-bust cycle so many high achievers are stuck in.
Garrett works with executives, founders, and entrepreneurs who want high performance without sacrificing their health, relationships, or peace of mind. His work is rooted in biopsychosocial science and nervous-system-first performance, helping leaders build success through their well-being—not at its expense.
Together, we explore imposter syndrome, nervous system debt, misalignment, and why traditional fixes like mindset work, balance, or self-care often don’t stick. This conversation offers a radically different—and deeply validating—lens on burnout and sustainable success.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
1. Burnout Is Nervous System Debt (Not Weakness)
Burnout happens when stress, pressure, and constant masking outweigh recovery and regulation. Your body has a bio-budget, and when withdrawals exceed deposits, burnout becomes inevitable—no matter how “resilient” you are.
2. Why Imposter Syndrome Persists for High Achievers
Garrett explains why imposter syndrome often shows up in capable, high-performing people—and how it’s tied to nervous system overload, attachment patterns, and identity pressure rather than lack of skill or experience.
3. The Power of Integration: Subconscious, Conscious & Somatic
Lasting change doesn’t come from mindset alone. Garrett’s work integrates:
- Subconscious (clinical hypnotherapy)
- Conscious (outcome-based coaching)
- Somatic (body-based regulation)
This is why change holds—even under pressure.
4. Burnout as Misalignment, Not Fragility
People don’t burn out because they’re fragile. They burn out when there’s a mismatch between their biology, beliefs, and environment.
You can thrive at 80 hours or break at 40—alignment makes the difference.
5. The 7 Drivers of Sustainable Success
Garrett walks through the seven areas that determine whether success feels energizing or depleting:
- Sensory intelligence
- Bio-budgets (energy, sleep, recovery)
- Emotional regulation
- Core beliefs
- Attachment patterns
- Values alignment
- Executive functioning strengths
Burnout always lives in the gap between nervous system needs and environment across these dimensions.
6. Why “Balance” and Self-Care Don’t Fix Burnout
Many high achievers try downtime, vacations, boundaries, or mindset work—and still feel stuck.
We talk about why these tools fail when they’re not paired with nervous system calibration and identity alignment—and how recovery needs to be systematic, not accidental.
Key Takeaways
- Burnout is nervous system debt, not personal failure
- Imposter syndrome is often physiological, not psychological
- Sustainable success is built through well-being, not sacrifice
- Alignment matters more than hours worked
- High performance can feel lighter, calmer, and more fulfilling
Connect with Garrett Wood
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gnosistherapy/
- Website: https://www.gnosistherapy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gnosistherapy/
