Ep. 42 How High-Functioning Women Can Finally Break Free From Stress and Self-Abandonment

Learn how high-achieving women can manage stress, stop self-abandonment, and reconnect with themselves using breathwork, nervous system regulation, and mindset shifts—featuring Dr. Kelly Kessler on Insights From the Couch.

Are You a High-Functioning Woman Who’s Secretly Struggling?

On the outside, you’re calm, capable, and constantly achieving. But on the inside? You're exhausted, anxious, and disconnected from yourself. You’re not alone. In this episode of Insights From the Couch, we sit down with Dr. Kelly Kessler—a licensed physical therapist, transformation coach, and host of the Rewiring Health podcast—to talk about a problem no one’s talking about enough: the hidden cost of high-functioning stress in women.

Meet Dr. Kelly Kessler

Dr. Kessler helps women stop abandoning themselves in the name of achievement and perfectionism. Her work combines nervous system regulation, subconscious reprogramming, and daily practices that foster true inner peace.But her expertise isn’t just professional—it’s deeply personal. After years of chronic back pain, overachievement, and burnout, Dr. Kessler hit a breaking point and began her own healing journey. What she discovered along the way changed everything.

1. High-Functioning Doesn’t Mean Emotionally Well

Many women are praised for being “strong” and “resilient”—but this often masks deep self-abandonment. They silence their needs, ignore their bodies, and rely on external validation to feel worthy.

2. Start With the Body to Calm the Mind

Dr. Kessler emphasizes nervous system regulation as a gateway to healing. One powerful tool? The physiological sigh: Inhale through your nose for 6 seconds, take a second quick sip of air, hold for 4 seconds, and exhale slowly for 8 seconds.

3. Self-Validation > Self-Criticism

Many women are stuck in negative self-talk because they didn’t receive emotional validation growing up. Dr. Kessler encourages reparenting your inner child and learning to validate your experience as an adult.

4. Rewrite Your Subconscious Beliefs

We all have core beliefs running the show—like “I’m not enough” or “I need to earn love through achievement.” These can be challenged through journaling, thought reframing, and values-based living.

5. Boundaries Are Self-Love, Not Punishment

Dr. Kessler redefines boundaries as invitations, not walls. You’re welcome in my life—if you honor the way I now choose to live. This mindset allows for clarity, peace, and healthier relationships—even if it means some painful goodbyes.

Where to Start If You’re Feeling Overwhelmed

Dr. Kessler recommends beginning with just one thing:- Try breathwork once a day- Journal your emotions without judgment- Replace one “pushing” habit with a “nourishing” one- Practice saying “no” without apology

Final Words From Dr. Kelly Kessler

“No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.” – Albert EinsteinIf you want your life to look different, you have to become different within yourself.

Resources Mentioned

- Free Download: Eight Daily Practices for Self-Loyalty & Nervous System Harmony (https://www.optimalyouhealthandwellness.com)- Follow Dr. Kessler on Instagram: @drkellykessler