From High-Functioning Anxiety to Healing: My Personal Journey Toward Burnout Recovery and Real Freedom
- Britt Ritchie
- Jul 4
- 5 min read
Every July 4th, the country lights up with fireworks and fanfare, all in the name of freedom. But for most of my life, “freedom” wasn’t something I celebrated—it was something I craved.
Not the kind of freedom wrapped in red, white, and blue. I mean the personal kind. The kind that lets you breathe deeper, think more clearly, and feel safe just being yourself.
For years, I looked like I was holding it all together on the outside—but inside, I was stuck in survival mode. I was overextending myself, striving for perfection, and trying to manage the constant swirl of anxiety while masking the symptoms of ADHD I didn’t fully understand at the time. I was chasing a version of myself I thought I needed to be in order to earn respect, love, and a sense of worth.
This is the part of my burnout recovery journey that doesn’t get talked about enough. The slow, personal, not-so-linear unraveling of the beliefs and habits that were keeping me stuck.
The Cage of Over functioning and
High-Functioning Anxiety
Over functioning doesn’t always feel like burnout. Sometimes it just feels… normal.
For a long time, I didn’t see my packed schedule as a problem—I saw it as being responsible. Productive. Successful. But underneath, I was overextended. I said yes to things I didn’t have the capacity or desire for. I filled my days with tasks and commitments that left little room for spontaneity, creativity, or quiet.
What I didn’t recognize at the time was the grip of high-functioning anxiety. On the outside, I was calm, capable, composed. But inside, I was bracing for failure. I was living in a state of constant vigilance—trying to stay ahead, keep up, hold it all together.
Now, I’m learning to pause. To say no more often. To honor the mental and emotional fatigue that doesn’t always “look like” burnout. I’m creating space for rest, creativity, and even a little boredom. And that space I used to fill with pressure? I’m learning to fill it with presence.
Letting Go of the Need to Be
Respected by the “Right” People
For most of my career, I felt like I had something to prove. I wanted to be taken seriously. I wanted to be respected by the doctors, administrators, and colleagues I worked alongside. And while I was good at playing that role—professional, polished, competent—I often felt like I was editing myself to fit into a mold.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be respected. But when that desire leads you to constantly over-correct, over-perform, or silence your voice, it stops being about connection—and starts being about survival.
Even though I haven’t completely stepped away from traditional systems, I’ve started to loosen my grip on that need for external validation. I’m no longer chasing approval in spaces where I don’t feel seen. Instead, I’m redefining respect on my own terms.
It’s Not Just Professional—It’s Personal, Too
This pressure to perform didn’t stop at work. It followed me into my personal life.
For years, I worried that if I really spoke my mind, or if I showed too much of who I actually was, people would be turned off or pull away. So I stayed agreeable. Pleasant. Thoughtful. Careful. I filtered my opinions. I made sure I wasn’t too much—too intense, too emotional, too direct.
It wasn’t a conscious performance, but it was a protective one.
And while I’m becoming more aware of it now, I’ll be honest—I haven’t figured this part out. I still catch myself wondering if being fully me will cost me connection. I still feel the occasional tug to shrink or soften. But I’m working on it. I’m giving myself more permission to take up space, even when it feels a little risky.
Because that, too, is part of freedom.
Creating My Own Practice Was a
Radical Act of Freedom
Starting my own practice wasn’t just a career move—it was a choice to align with what I believe actually helps people heal.
I’ve always had a deep love of health and fitness, and I’ve long believed that mental wellness doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It’s connected to everything—your biology, your habits, your environment, your beliefs.
In building my own practice, I finally have the freedom to offer holistic mental health support that feels honest, thorough, and human.
I focus on medical and nutritional optimization as part of an integrative model—often referred to as nutritional psychiatry—because I believe that healing should include the whole body, not just the brain. We look at hormones, gut health, nutrient levels, inflammation, sleep, and nervous system regulation—not just checklists or diagnostic codes.
That approach has given me back my own energy and joy—and given my clients a new sense of clarity and hope.
Writing This Is Freedom, Too
There was a time when I would have never written something like this. Sharing my story felt too vulnerable. Too risky. Too “unprofessional.”
But part of my freedom now is being able to say: This is who I am. This is what I’ve walked through. This is how I show up.
Writing these blogs, telling the truth, and owning my voice without shame? That’s been one of the most healing parts of this journey. I know I’m not alone—and I want my clients to know they’re not either.
This 4th of July, I'm Celebrating a
Different Kind of Independence
Not from a government.
From my old ways of thinking.
From the inner critic who says I have to earn my worth.
From the belief that busy = better.
From the fear of not being taken seriously unless I shrink or perform.
This year, I’m celebrating freedom as presence.
Freedom as alignment.
Freedom as the ability to live, work, and speak in a way that feels like me.
How I Can Help
I work with ambitious women who are stuck in survival mode—burned out, anxious, perfectionistic, overwhelmed—get to the real root of what’s going on and create a personalized plan for healing.
Together, we’ll explore:
Nervous system regulation
Hormonal and nutritional imbalances
ADHD in women and executive function challenges
Identity shifts, burnout patterns, and the beliefs keeping you stuck
And we’ll do it in a way that supports your biology, your values, and your long-term goals.
What Are You Ready to Let Go Of?
This July 4th, I’m asking myself—and you:
What would it feel like to stop proving and start living?
Whatever your answer is, I hope you begin to make space for it. Even just a little. Because that space? That’s where freedom begins.
What Are You Declaring Independence From?
A) Perfectionism
B) Hustle culture
C) High-functioning anxiety
D) People-pleasing
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