Unpacked
A blog on trauma healing, EMDR, burnout, and boundaries—for high-achieving women of color ready to unpack it all.
When the Cold Season Feels Heavy: Finding Ground Instead of Grit
You’ve accomplished a lot. You’ve checked the boxes, climbed the ladder, broken cycles. On paper, it looks like you’re thriving.
But inside? You’re tired. You second-guess your worth. You chase the next milestone not because you want it—but because slowing down feels unsafe.
If achievement is the only way you feel valuable, that’s not ambition. That’s armor. And it’s heavy.
When Achievement is Armor: Releasing the Need to Prove Yourself
You’ve accomplished a lot. You’ve checked the boxes, climbed the ladder, broken cycles. On paper, it looks like you’re thriving.
But inside? You’re tired. You second-guess your worth. You chase the next milestone not because you want it—but because slowing down feels unsafe.
If achievement is the only way you feel valuable, that’s not ambition. That’s armor. And it’s heavy.
The Cost of Being the “Go-To” Person: Burnout in High-Achieving Women of Color
You’re dependable. Competent. The one people lean on.
At work, at home, in your friendships—when something needs to get done, it lands on your plate. And you handle it. You always have.
But behind the high performance and calm exterior? You’re exhausted. Overextended. Sometimes angry. Sometimes numb. And deeply unseen.
Being the “go-to” is not just a role. For many women of color, it’s a survival identity. But it’s costing you more than anyone realizes.