Is “I’m tired” actually true, or is it your nervous system trying to protect you?

Have you ever told yourself, “I’m just too tired” or “I don’t have the bandwidth right now” and it felt honest, but also a little off?

Maybe it was a hard conversation you avoided. A class you skipped. A next step you kept pushing down the to-do list. If you’re a high-capacity, high-achieving human who still finds yourself stuck in old patterns, I want to gently ask: What if the tiredness isn’t just physical? What if it’s protective?

In this episode, Lauren Dry shares a powerful and personal story about the moment she realized “I’m tired” had become her go-to escape clause. With the support of a trusted mentor, she uncovered what was really underneath that phrase and how it was quietly shaping her relationship with growth, rest, and regulation.

Because sometimes what we call exhaustion is really the nervous system saying, This feels too vulnerable. And when we can name that, we begin to shift out of self-abandonment and into something much more nourishing.

You’ll hear about:

• The hidden cost of saying “I’m too tired” and how it might be quietly stalling your goals
• How the nervous system disguises freeze or fawn responses as busyness or burnout
• The difference between true exhaustion and subtle dissociation
• “Escape clause” phrases that sound responsible but actually block your healing
• How to stretch safely without slipping into self-abandonment

Resources & Links:

• Rise into Regulation™ — The skillset for connection, communication, and Nervous System safety in modern marriage
• Connect with Lauren on Instagram — @lauren_dry

If this episode stirred something in you, please share it with a friend, leave a review, or come chat with me on Instagram. I’d love to hear what landed for you.

Big love,

Lauren X