Burnout-Free Me
Burnout-Free Me is the success and well-being podcast for high-achievers and ambitious career professionals who are done running on empty and ready to thrive on their own terms.
Hosted by Dr. Amy Grimm—a veterinarian, success coach, and wellbeing expert—this podcast gives you the tools, mindset shifts, and honest conversations you need to break free from the hustle.
Each week, you’ll get real talk about stress, mental health, work-life balance, productivity, and all the ways burnout sneaks into our lives. You’ll learn practical strategies to manage overwhelm and anxiety, reclaim your energy, and create space for balance and joy, without sacrificing your career or ambition.
Dr. Amy has lived the grind herself, and now she’s here to help you rewrite the rules of success so you can finally feel like yourself again.
Wherever you are on your burnout recovery journey, Burnout-Free Me is here to help you take back your energy, your confidence, and your life.
(Previously The Daring DVM Podcast)
You can find out more about Amy and her work at https://www.daringdvm.com.
Music by Alex Grohl by Pixabay.
Episodes

May 28, 2026
May 28, 2026
28 min
Want more of this? On Substack I share longer reflections, practical tools, and honest conversations that don't make it onto the pod. Join the Burnout-Free Me community: https://amygrimmburnoutfreeme.substack.com
Episode Details:
What if your job has been quietly affecting you — and you never knew it had a name?
Secondary traumatic stress is one of the most underrecognized contributors to burnout in high-achieving professionals. It doesn't arrive all at once. It accumulates slowly, invisibly, the way water heats around a frog in a pot. And most people don't realize how far it's gone until they've already crossed their limit.
In Part 2 of this special Mental Health Awareness Month series, Dr. Amy Grimm goes deep on secondary traumatic stress — what it is, what makes you vulnerable to it, how to recognize it in your own body and behavior, and where to start when it comes to taking care of yourself. She walks through the Contributing Factors Venn Diagram developed by Françoise Mathieu and the TEND Academy — a powerful framework for understanding the eight risk factor categories that shape your personal stress threshold.
This is one of the most important conversations in the burnout space. And nobody taught us this.
What You'll Learn
What secondary traumatic stress actually is — and the neuroscience behind why it happens
The 8 risk factor categories from Françoise Mathieu's Contributing Factors model
Moral distress, empathic strain, and systems failure — and why they matter for burnout
How to recognize secondary traumatic stress in yourself across three symptom categories
The three warning sign categories to watch for: physical, behavioral, and emotional
Where to start when it comes to managing and recovering from secondary traumatic stress
Links & Resources
Substack: https://amygrimmburnoutfreeme.substack.com
Coaching & website: https://burnoutfreeme.com
TEND Academy (Françoise Mathieu): https://www.tendacademy.ca
Contributing Factors Venn Diagram: https://www.tendacademy.ca/venn-diagram/
Missed Part 1? Listen to Episode 147: Trauma 101: Understanding the Basics of Traumatic Stress
About Dr. Amy Grimm
Dr. Amy Grimm is a veterinarian, success coach, and wellbeing expert and the host of Burnout-Free Me -- the podcast for high-achieving women who are done running on empty. Real talk, practical tools, and honest mindset shifts every week.
Enjoyed this episode?
Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and if this show has been valuable to you, please take a moment to leave a rating and review. It helps other women find this community — and that matters.

May 14, 2026
May 14, 2026
26 min
Want more of this? On Substack, I share longer reflections, practical tools, and honest conversations that don't make it onto the pod. Join the Burnout-Free Me community: https://amygrimmburnoutfreeme.substack.com
Episode Details:
You've probably felt it — completely wrecked by your job in a way that sleep doesn't fix, or on edge in a way you couldn't quite explain. What if the missing piece wasn't a solution, but a language?
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and in this episode, Dr. Amy Grimm kicks off a special two-part series timed to her upcoming presentation on compassion fatigue at AVMA in July. Episode 147 lays the foundation: the trauma terminology that changes how you understand yourself, your stress, and your burnout.
This isn't therapy. It's information — the kind that finally makes the things you've been carrying make sense.
What You'll Learn
What it actually means to be trauma-informed — and why it matters beyond healthcare
The ACE study: what adverse childhood experiences are, what the research found, and how to think about your own score
Big T vs. Little T trauma — and why the labels can help or hurt
The three types of traumatic stress: primary, secondary, and environmental
Why trauma is defined by the response, not the event — and what that means for you
Links & Resources
Substack: https://amygrimmburnoutfreeme.substack.com
Coaching & website: https://burnoutfreeme.com
ACE Questionnaire: https://www.acesaware.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ACE-Questionnaire-for-Adults-Identified-English-rev.7.26.22.pdf
About Dr. Amy Grimm
Dr. Amy Grimm is a veterinarian, success coach, and wellbeing expert and the host of Burnout-Free Me -- the podcast for high-achieving women who are done running on empty. Real talk, practical tools, and honest mindset shifts every week.
Enjoyed this episode?
Subscribe so you don't miss Episode 148, where we go deep on secondary traumatic stress — the burnout you don't see coming. And if this show has been valuable to you, please leave a rating and review. It helps other women find this community.

Apr 30, 2026
Apr 30, 2026
16 min
Join me on Substack:If you’re ready for more honest, real conversations about burnout, nervous system regulation, and creating a life that actually feels good to live… along with tools and practices that actually help…
👉 Subscribe here: https://amygrimmburnoutfreeme.substack.com/
That’s where I share deeper insights, behind-the-scenes thoughts, and practical ways to start shifting out of survival mode.
Share This Episode:If this episode made you feel seen or helped something click… send it to a friend who needs to hear it too.
Resources:
The Burnout FixA practical tool designed to help high-achieving professionals regulate their nervous system and break free from the productivity trap.
Learn more at: burnoutfreeme.com
Work With Amy
If you're a high-achieving professional who feels like you're constantly running on empty, Amy helps ambitious women understand burnout, regulate their nervous systems, and build careers that support their lives rather than consuming them.
Learn more or book a consultation: burnoutfreeme.com
Subscribe & Review
If you enjoyed this episode of Burnout-Free Me, make sure you're subscribed so you never miss a conversation about burnout recovery, nervous system health, and creating success without sacrificing your wellbeing.
Leaving a quick review also helps more high-achieving women find the show.
Episode Notes:
If you feel exhausted all the time… even though you’re doing everything “right”… this episode is going to make that make sense.
Because this isn’t about time management or being more disciplined.And it’s not because you’re falling behind.
In this episode of Burnout-Free Me, I’m breaking down why so many high-achieving women feel constantly drained despite being capable, responsible, and on top of their lives… and what’s actually going on beneath the surface.
We’re talking about the hidden cost of chronic stress, how your nervous system adapts to pressure over time, and why “used to it” doesn’t mean “okay.”
If you’ve ever felt like you should have more energy, more motivation, or just be handling things better… this conversation is for you.
This is where we shift from “What’s wrong with me?”to “Oh… this actually makes sense.”
And that shift changes everything.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Why feeling exhausted doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong
How high-achievers unknowingly adapt to unsustainable levels of stress
The difference between being “used to it” and actually being okay
Why rest doesn’t always feel restorative (and what that really means)
How your nervous system keeps you stuck in “go mode” without you realizing it
The subtle reason you feel behind… no matter how much you do
Meet Amy:
Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being.
A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership.
She also hosts the Burnout-Free Me Podcast (previously Daring DVM Podcast), a free resource for high-achievers and career professionals who want to live with less stress and create a life of balance, fulfillment, and joy.
Outside of work, Amy and her partner enjoy travel and all things outdoors. You’ll most likely find them on top of a mountain, in the middle of a desert, somewhere underwater, or 100 miles into a ride on their tandem mountain bicycle.

Apr 16, 2026
Apr 16, 2026
19 min
High-achievers love a good plan.
We map out the perfect workout routine. The ideal morning ritual. The healthy habit that will finally help us feel organized, productive, and in control again.
And then… we quit.
Not because we lack discipline or because we don’t care, but because perfectionism quietly turns habit-building into an impossible standard.
In this episode of Burnout-Free Me, Dr. Amy Grimm explores why perfectionism is actually a terrible strategy for creating healthy habits, especially for ambitious professionals who are already carrying a lot of responsibility.
When your brain defaults to all-or-nothing thinking, habits tend to follow a predictable pattern. You start strong with an ambitious plan, life inevitably disrupts it, and your brain decides that if it can’t be done perfectly, it’s not worth doing at all.
That cycle isn’t a motivation problem. It’s a nervous system problem.
When stress narrows your capacity and shrinks your window of tolerance, the rigid plans perfectionists rely on simply stop working. Sustainable habits require a different approach. One that works with your real life, your energy levels, and the reality that high-responsibility careers rarely run on a perfectly predictable schedule.
In this episode, you’ll learn how to shift away from perfectionistic habit building and toward a strategy that actually supports long-term consistency. Amy shares the powerful concept of a minimum baseline habit, how to create a backup plan for chaotic days, and why building habits around your current capacity is the key to making them stick.
This conversation blends nervous system awareness, mindset shifts, and practical habit strategies so you can stop quitting on yourself and start building routines that support your health, energy, and life outside of work.
If you’ve ever felt stuck in the start-stop cycle with healthy habits, this episode will give you a much more sustainable way forward.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn
Why perfectionism sabotages healthy habit formation
How all-or-nothing thinking keeps high-achievers stuck in burnout cycles
What nervous system capacity has to do with consistency
How to create a minimum baseline habit that actually sticks
Why every habit needs a backup plan for real life
How consistency rewires your brain and widens your window of tolerance
A Simple Habit Experiment to Try
Choose one habit you’ve struggled to maintain.
Instead of focusing on the ideal version, define the smallest version that still counts. Something you can do even on stressful days.
Then decide on a backup version for when life inevitably gets messy.
The goal is not perfection. The goal is continuity.
Small, consistent actions train your brain and nervous system to support the identity you want to build.
Resources Mentioned
If you want to better understand what burnout is actually doing to your brain and nervous system, start with my free resource:
The Burnout FixA simple guide to help high-achievers stop running on empty and start restoring their energy.
You can download it at:burnoutfreeme.com
Connect with Dr. Amy Grimm
If this episode resonated with you, make sure you follow the podcast so you don’t miss future conversations about burnout, nervous system regulation, and creating a life that actually feels good to live.
You can also watch full episodes and additional content on YouTube and explore coaching resources at: burnoutfreeme.com

Apr 2, 2026
Apr 2, 2026
21 min
Many high-achieving women quietly wonder the same thing:
Is it actually possible to have a fulfilling career and a fulfilling relationship?
When you care deeply about your work, carry a lot of responsibility, and want to do things well, it can start to feel like your career and your love life are competing for the same limited energy.
You may find yourself emotionally exhausted at the end of the day, mentally preoccupied with work when you're trying to be present with your partner, or wondering if pursuing success has unintentionally pushed relationships to the side.
In this episode of Burnout-Free Me, Dr. Amy Grimm explores why this happens and why the real issue is often not time management or “balance.”
Instead, the root of the problem often lies in the productivity trap many ambitious women grow up internalizing. When your worth becomes unconsciously tied to achievement and responsibility, work can slowly consume more energy and capacity than you ever intended.
Over time, this affects your nervous system, your emotional availability, and your ability to fully connect with the people you love.
In this conversation, Amy shares how burnout and chronic stress influence intimacy and presence in relationships, why nervous system regulation is essential for connection, and how high-achieving women can build careers that support their lives rather than quietly draining them.
You’ll also hear a real coaching example that shows how shifting your internal experience of work can dramatically improve your relationship without requiring you to sacrifice your career.
This episode is for any ambitious woman who wants success, meaningful relationships, and a life that actually feels aligned.
In This Episode
Amy explores:
Why high-achieving women often fall into the productivity trap• How unconscious beliefs about worth and achievement affect relationships• Why burnout and chronic stress make emotional connection more difficult• The role your nervous system plays in communication, presence, and intimacy• Why “work-life balance” may not be the right goal• The concept of life-work alignment and how it changes everything• A real coaching example of improving a relationship without leaving a demanding career• Simple shifts that help ambitious professionals reconnect with themselves and their partners
Resources Mentioned
The Burnout FixA practical tool designed to help high-achieving professionals regulate their nervous system and break free from the productivity trap.
Learn more at:burnoutfreeme.com
Work With Amy
If you're a high-achieving professional who feels like you're constantly running on empty, Amy helps ambitious women understand burnout, regulate their nervous systems, and build careers that support their lives rather than consuming them.
Learn more or book a consultation:burnoutfreeme.com
Subscribe & Review
If you enjoyed this episode of Burnout-Free Me, make sure you're subscribed so you never miss a conversation about burnout recovery, nervous system health, and creating success without sacrificing your wellbeing.
Leaving a quick review also helps more high-achieving women find the show.

Mar 19, 2026
Mar 19, 2026
21 min
“We’re like family here.”
It sounds warm, supportive, and welcoming. But in many workplaces, this phrase can quietly blur boundaries and create pressure to sacrifice more of yourself than is healthy or sustainable.
In this episode, Dr. Amy Grimm explores why the “work family” narrative can contribute to burnout, especially for high-achieving professionals who already tend to overextend themselves. When loyalty, belonging, and identity become tangled up with our jobs, it becomes much harder to recognize when our needs are being pushed aside.
Amy shares how language like this can subtly shape expectations in the workplace, why healthy boundaries are essential for protecting your mental and emotional well-being, and how patterns like perfectionism, people-pleasing, and over-responsibility can keep us stuck in cycles of overwork.
You’ll also learn why having meaningful relationships at work is still important, and how the real goal isn’t distance from colleagues but clarity about roles, expectations, and limits.
If you’ve ever felt pressure to give more than you realistically have to give, or struggled with the guilt of setting boundaries in your career, this conversation will help you rethink what healthy success actually looks like.
By the end of this episode, you’ll understand how recognizing your boundaries and using them intentionally can help you build a career that supports your life instead of consuming it.
In This Episode
Why the phrase “we’re like family” can create unhealthy workplace dynamics
How blurred boundaries contribute to burnout
The role perfectionism and people-pleasing play in overworking
What cognitive schemas are and how past experiences shape your work patterns
Why connection at work still matters and how to balance openness with healthy limits
How understanding your boundaries can transform your work experience
Resources & Next Steps
If this episode resonated with you, there are a few ways to continue the conversation:
Join the Burnout-Free Me Newsletter for deeper insights and tools to help you stop running on empty and start building success that actually feels good.
Download The Burnout Fix, a practical tool to help you identify what’s really driving your exhaustion and how to start shifting it.
You can find both at burnoutfreeme.com.
Subscribe & Review
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Burnout-Free Me so you never miss a conversation about burnout, nervous system regulation, leadership, and building a life that feels as successful on the inside as it looks on paper.
And if you’ve listened to a few episodes and found them helpful, leaving a review helps more people discover the show.
Thanks for being here.

Mar 5, 2026
Mar 5, 2026
53 min
Burnout in the Bedroom: When Sex Becomes Another To-Do with Laura Jurgens
When you’re burned out, overwhelmed, and running on empty, intimacy is often one of the first things to change—and one of the hardest to talk about. Desire fades. Connection feels harder. Sex can quietly turn into another obligation on an already too-long to-do list.
In this episode of Burnout-Free Me, I’m joined by relationship and intimacy coach Laura Jurgens, host of the The Desire Gap Podcast, for an honest, shame-free conversation about burnout in the bedroom. We explore why desire gaps are so common—especially for high-achieving, people-pleasing women—and how chronic stress and nervous system overload affect desire, arousal, orgasm, and emotional connection.
Laura helps us unpack why thoughts like “I should want sex” or “What’s wrong with me?” are not only unhelpful, but deeply disconnected from what’s actually happening in the body. Together, we talk about duty sex, relationship anxiety, and how intimacy changes when your nervous system has been stuck in survival mode for too long.
This conversation isn’t about fixing yourself or forcing desire. It’s about understanding what’s happening beneath the surface, letting go of shame, and finding more compassionate, sustainable ways to reconnect—with yourself and with your partner—without making sex another performance or productivity goal.
If you’ve ever felt successful everywhere except here… this episode is for you.
About Laura:
Laura Jurgens, PhD is a dual-certified Master relationship and intimacy coach and host of The Desire Gap Podcast. She is a desire-arousal specialist helping individuals and couples discover authentic sexual connection, shed relationship anxiety, gain confidence, master communication, and release shame around intimacy. Her approach is play-based, practical, inclusive, trauma-informed, and grounded in the latest research. She is a former university professor with a PhD in biological sciences and certifications from the Somatica Institute, the Life Coach School, and the NeuroAffective Touch Institute.
Learn more about Laura’s work:🌐 Website: https://laurajurgens.com✍️ Blog: https://laurajurgens.com/the-desire-gap-blog/🎧 The Desire Gap Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-desire-gap-real-solutions-for-couples-with/id1728337669📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laura.jurgens.coach📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurajurgenscoaching/
Burnout & Wellbeing Coaching With Amy:
✨ Ready to break free from exhaustion and stop running on empty, so you can create real balance, reclaim your energy, and finally feel like yourself again? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today!
🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and ways we can work together. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements here.
JOIN the Burnout-Free Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more!
📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn
Meet Amy:
Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being.
A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership.
She also hosts the Burnout-Free Me Podcast (previously Daring DVM Podcast), a free resource for high-achievers and career professionals who want to live with less stress and create a life of balance, fulfillment, and joy.
Outside of work, Amy and her fiance enjoy travel and all things outdoors. You’ll most likely find them on top of a mountain, in the middle of a desert, somewhere underwater, or 100 miles into a ride on their tandem mountain bicycle.

Feb 19, 2026
Feb 19, 2026
15 min
How Gratitude Changes Your Brain When You’re Under Pressure
When life feels heavy and pressure is high, your brain doesn’t respond by becoming calm or rational—it narrows its focus, scans for problems, and stays on high alert. That’s not a personal failing. It’s biology.
In this episode of Burnout-Free Me, Dr. Amy Grimm breaks down what neuroscience actually says about gratitude—and why it works very differently than most people think. This is not about pretending everything is fine or forcing positivity when you’re exhausted. It’s about how gratitude, when practiced in small, grounded ways, changes how your brain processes stress, recovers from pressure, and carries mental load over time.
You’ll learn
how gratitude affects attention, memory, and nervous system regulation,
why it can help pressure feel less intense and less sticky,
and how it supports faster recovery after stressful moments.
Amy shares practical, science-backed prompts you can use even on your busiest, most overwhelming days—no journaling marathons required.
If you’re a high-achiever who feels constantly “on,” mentally compressed, or unable to fully relax even when nothing is actively wrong, this episode will help you understand what’s happening in your brain—and give you tools to work with it instead of fighting it.
✨ If this episode resonated, consider sharing it with someone who helps you feel a little steadier under pressure.
Burnout & Wellbeing Coaching With Amy:
✨ Ready to break free from exhaustion and stop running on empty, so you can create real balance, reclaim your energy, and finally feel like yourself again? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today!
🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and ways we can work together. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements here.
JOIN the Burnout-Free Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more!
📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn
Meet Amy:
Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being.
A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership.
She also hosts the Burnout-Free Me Podcast (previously Daring DVM Podcast), a free resource for high-achievers and career professionals who want to live with less stress and create a life of balance, fulfillment, and joy.
Outside of work, Amy and her partner enjoy travel and all things outdoors. You’ll most likely find them on top of a mountain, in the middle of a desert, somewhere underwater, or 100 miles into a ride on their tandem mountain bicycle.

Feb 5, 2026
Feb 5, 2026
50 min
The Human Cost of Caring: Burnout, Compassion, and Meaningful Work with Dr. Marie Holowaychuk
Caring deeply about your work can be meaningful—and exhausting. In this episode of Burnout-Free Me, I’m joined by Dr. Marie Holowaychuk, veterinary specialist and author of A Compassionate Calling, for a powerful conversation about the human cost of caring in high-pressure, high-responsibility careers.
While Marie’s work is rooted in veterinary medicine, the themes we explore extend far beyond one profession. We talk about stress, burnout, perfectionism, professional identity, and the emotional weight that comes with work that truly matters. Together, we unpack what happens when high-achieving women hold themselves to impossible standards—and what it takes to stay human, connected, and resilient without losing yourself in the process.
This episode is for anyone who loves their work, cares deeply, and is quietly wondering if there’s a better, more sustainable way to keep going.
About Dr. Marie:
Dr. Marie Holowaychuk, DVM, Dipl. ACVECC, is a passionate advocate for mental health and wellbeing in caregiving professions, and empowers veterinary teams and other caregiving professionals to prevent burnout, build resilience, and cultivate fulfilling careers.
With over 20 years of experience as a veterinarian and critical care specialist, Marie founded Reviving Veterinary Medicine to provide evidence-based resources through transformative programs like From Burnout to Balance and From Toxic to Terrific.
As a certified coach, yoga and meditation teacher, and wellbeing facilitator, Marie blends science, empathy, and practical insights to engage and inspire audiences. She also hosts the Reviving Vet Med Podcast, exploring topics such as mental health and workplace culture. Her contributions have earned her the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association’s Communication Award and the Alberta Blue Cross Face of Wellness Award, as well as being recognized as one of Canada’s Top Keynote Speakers of 2025 by Eureka Education and Top 100 Health & Wellness by Top 100 Magazine.
Marie’s book, A Compassionate Calling: What It Really Means to Be a Veterinarian, offers a candid exploration of the challenges and rewards of a career in veterinary medicine, shedding light on the emotional complexities and deep sense of purpose that drive those in the profession.
Learn about Dr. Marie's work:
Website: https://marieholowaychuk.com/
Reviving Veterinary Medicine: https://revivingvetmed.com/
A Compassionate Calling (book): https://acompassionatecalling.com/
Burnout & Wellbeing Coaching With Amy:
✨ Ready to break free from exhaustion and stop running on empty, so you can create real balance, reclaim your energy, and finally feel like yourself again? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today!
🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and ways we can work together. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements here.
JOIN the Burnout-Free Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more!
📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn
Meet Amy:
Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being.
A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership.
She also hosts the Burnout-Free Me Podcast (previously Daring DVM Podcast), a free resource for high-achievers and career professionals who want to live with less stress and create a life of balance, fulfillment, and joy.
Outside of work, Amy and her partner enjoy travel and all things outdoors. You’ll most likely find them on top of a mountain, in the middle of a desert, somewhere underwater, or 100 miles into a ride on their tandem mountain bicycle.

Jan 22, 2026
Jan 22, 2026
21 min
Can Burnout Affect Your Sex Drive? The Effect of Chronic Stress on Desire
When you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and constantly running on empty, desire is often one of the first things to fade. But that doesn’t mean something is wrong with you or your relationship.
In this episode of Burnout-Free Me, Dr. Amy Grimm explores how burnout and chronic stress affect the nervous system—and why that directly impacts libido, intimacy, and pleasure. This isn’t a conversation about fixing desire or forcing intimacy. It’s about understanding what your body is doing when it’s been in survival mode for too long.
Amy breaks down how the fight, flight, and freeze response can turn inward, leading to self-criticism, avoidance, and overthinking around intimacy. You’ll learn how burnout quietly reduces capacity for pleasure, why desire often goes offline as a protective response, and what to pay attention to if you suspect burnout may be affecting your sex drive.
If you’ve ever thought, “Everything is fine, so why don’t I want this?”—this episode will help you make sense of what’s happening with compassion, clarity, and a nervous-system-informed lens.
Burnout & Wellbeing Coaching With Amy:
✨ Ready to break free from exhaustion and stop running on empty, so you can create real balance, reclaim your energy, and finally feel like yourself again? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today!
🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and ways we can work together. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements here.
JOIN the Burnout-Free Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more!
📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn
Meet Amy:
Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being.
A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership.
She also hosts the Burnout-Free Me Podcast (previously Daring DVM Podcast), a free resource for high-achievers and career professionals who want to live with less stress and create a life of balance, fulfillment, and joy.
Outside of work, Amy and her partner enjoy travel and all things outdoors. You’ll most likely find them on top of a mountain, in the middle of a desert, somewhere underwater, or 100 miles into a ride on their tandem mountain bicycle.

Dare to Dream
Dr. Amy Grimm is a veterinarian, certified life coach, anti-burnout advocate and founder of Daring DVM Coaching and host of the Daring DVM Podcast. She is on a mission to reshape mental health in the veterinary field by inspiring others and teaching them how to create a healthy mindset and become resilient AF.
She has served in industry, public health, research, private practice, and was a Medical Director of a companion animal hospital for several years, before making the leap into entrepreneurship and coaching.
It was through her own struggles with burnout and life-work balance that Dr. Amy discovered coaching and realized the profound positive effects in her own life. Her own transformation inspired her to become a coach herself, so that she could help others who are struggling, just like she once was.
Today she coaches busy, burned-out professionals and helps them transform their lives and fall in love with their careers again. She also still does the doctory things she loves by providing HVHQSN and surgical relief services. Dr. Amy and her fiancé live in Grass Valley, CA. They enjoy everything outdoorsy, including backpacking, bike-packing, peak-bagging, running ultras, and racing on their tandem mountain bike. They share their home with their derpy Catahoula-Aussie-mix, Jake, and elderly entitled Pug, Berkels.
"I love who you are, and even more than that, I love who you are becoming.
Dare to dream."





