Breaking Point: From Burnout to Self Compassion, My Daring Well Story with Gabby Wnek

Rita Mercer Author

Gabby Wnek shares her journey from burnout to healing, embracing self-compassion, rest, & balance. Discover mindset tools to support your well-being!

The Weight of Burnout

Burnout is a silent plague among helpers, caregivers, and overachievers. In this intimate conversation, Gabby Wnek, a licensed clinical social worker and coach, shares her journey through the relentless demands of work, chronic pain, and self-abandonment. Her turning point came not only from hitting rock bottom, but from discovering the power of self-compassion, redefining success, and finding balance with rest.

Gabby's Journey: From Passion to Overwhelm

Gabby began her career driven with a heartfelt passion for helping others. After earning her degree in social work, she immersed herself in community mental health. However, the demands of seeing 25 to 30 clients a week, with severe chronic mental health needs left her physically and emotionally exhausted. She shares how she struggled with chronic pelvic pain, that worsened with stress, became a constant reminder of the toll her work was taking on mind and body.

“I was seeing client after client, coming home in 10 out of 10 pain. The only relief was taking medication to sleep at night,” Gabby recalls.

The Breaking Point

Gabby reached a pivotal moment during a session with a client. For the first time, she realized she had emotionally checked out.

“I thought, ‘I don’t even care what you’re saying.’ That was the moment I knew something had to change,” she shares.

This stark surreal moment led her to request time off and confront the unsustainable demands of her work. However, she knew that stepping back wasn’t going to be enough. She shares how she knew that true healing required reflecting and tuning into her needs and her relationship with herself.

Rediscovering Balance Through Self-Compassion

Gabby credits self-compassion as the key to her wellness recovery. She began working with a coach and using tools such as meditation, yoga, and inner dialogue of "parts work" from internal family systems theory to help her learn to reconnect with her inner voice. Through this practice she learned:

“I apologized to the part of me I had abandoned. I told her, ‘I’m so sorry for not taking care of you. I promise I’ll never do that again.’”

Through this practice, Gabby befriended her inner critic and perfectionist mindset habits, allowing her greater insight and space while setting healthier boundaries for herself.

The Power of Options and Rest

Gabby also emphasizes the importance of creating options to ease feelings of being trapped:

“Even if the options seem far-fetched, they give your nervous system relief by showing that change is possible.”

She highlights rest as a critically important act in a world that glorifies busyness by pushing to do more and more.

Lessons Learned: Self-Compassion Over Perfection

Gabby’s story underscores that healing is not linear, and progress often involves setbacks. Her advice to those struggling with burnout is clear:

• Listen to Your Body: Don’t ignore the signals it’s sending.
• Shift Your Mindset: Believe that change is possible, even before you see it.
• Practice Self-Compassion: Treat yourself with the same kindness you offer others.
• Create Options: Explore small, actionable steps to lighten your load.

“Progress is progress, even if it’s just one tiny step forward. The key is not to quit.”

Closing Thoughts

Gabby’s journey is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of self-compassion. By choosing to listen to her needs and honor her well-being, she not only healed herself but also redefined what it means to live and work well.

“You are worthy of rest, of love, and of a life that feels good to live,” Gabby reminds us.

To connect with Gabby, please see the links below:

Therapy - Grow Therapy

Coaching for burnout, stress, anxiety, and nervous system regulation

If Gabby’s story resonates with you, please share it with someone who might need to hear it. For more insights on wellness and self-compassion, subscribe to The Daring Well Podcast and follow us on social media. Together, we can create lives filled with balance, growth, and joy.

Connect with us on social media @Daring Well.

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Categories: : Balance, Burnout, Mindset, Self Compassion, Self Forgiveness, Stress