3 Signs You've Hit Clinical Burnout and Should Seek Help | Dr Jo Perkins

Burnout doesn't always look like a breakdown. Sometimes it looks like pushing through, feeling numb, forgetting who you are, or wondering why everything suddenly feels so much harder. I'm joined by Dr Jo Perkins, an eminent Chartered Psychologist who supports senior business professionals and organisations to develop effective strategies to optimise psychological performance. Dr Jo explains how burnout develops, why so many people miss the warning signs, and why it can hit people with ADHD especially hard. Together, we explore the difference between being tired and having a nervous system that can no longer recover, the hidden role of masking, and what real recovery actually looks like. If you've ever thought, "I'm just exhausted," but suspect it's something more, this conversation could change the way you understand burnout. Chapters: 00:00 Trailer 02:10 The Biggest Lie About Burnout 03:51 Burnout Before You Realise It’s Happening 05:17 Does Burnout Hit Suddenly or Build Up? 06:23 Why People Miss the Warning Signs 09:33 How Bad Burnout Can Really Get 16:16 Do We All Have a Breaking Point? 17:20 When Your Body Stops Recovering 19:00 Tired vs Burnt Out (Big Difference) 21:24 When You Stop Feeling Like Yourself 24:38 Why Burnout Makes ADHD Worse 29:43 Tiimo Advert 31:43 Can Masking Cause Burnout? 36:46 When to Seek Professional Help 38:44 The #1 Warning Sign of Burnout 40:26 Can You Fully Recover from Burnout? 41:47 The Biggest Recovery Mistake 43:17 A Letter to My Younger Self Visit Jo’s website 👉 https://drjoperkins.com Find Jo on LinkedIn 👉 https://uk.linkedin.com/in/dr-jo-perkins-46b943 Get 30% off an annual Tiimo subscription 👉 https://www.tiimoapp.com/offers/adhdchatter Buy Alex's book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817 Order Alex’s book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e Producer: Timon Woodward Recorded by: Hamlin Studios Trailer editor: Ryan Faber DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Alex PartridgehostDr Jo Perkinsguest

Jul 20, 202644mWatch on YouTube ↗

EPISODE INFO

Released: July 20, 2026
Duration: 44m
Channel: ADHD Chatter Podcast
Watch on YouTube: ▶ Open ↗

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Burnout doesn't always look like a breakdown. Sometimes it looks like pushing through, feeling numb, forgetting who you are, or wondering why everything suddenly feels so much harder. I'm joined by Dr Jo Perkins, an eminent Chartered Psychologist who supports senior business professionals and organisations to develop effective strategies to optimise psychological performance. Dr Jo explains how burnout develops, why so many people miss the warning signs, and why it can hit people with ADHD especially hard. Together, we explore the difference between being tired and having a nervous system that can no longer recover, the hidden role of masking, and what real recovery actually looks like. If you've ever thought, "I'm just exhausted," but suspect it's something more, this conversation could change the way you understand burnout. Chapters: 00:00 Trailer 02:10 The Biggest Lie About Burnout 03:51 Burnout Before You Realise It’s Happening 05:17 Does Burnout Hit Suddenly or Build Up? 06:23 Why People Miss the Warning Signs 09:33 How Bad Burnout Can Really Get 16:16 Do We All Have a Breaking Point? 17:20 When Your Body Stops Recovering 19:00 Tired vs Burnt Out (Big Difference) 21:24 When You Stop Feeling Like Yourself 24:38 Why Burnout Makes ADHD Worse 29:43 Tiimo Advert 31:43 Can Masking Cause Burnout? 36:46 When to Seek Professional Help 38:44 The #1 Warning Sign of Burnout 40:26 Can You Fully Recover from Burnout? 41:47 The Biggest Recovery Mistake 43:17 A Letter to My Younger Self Visit Jo’s website 👉 https://drjoperkins.com Find Jo on LinkedIn 👉 https://uk.linkedin.com/in/dr-jo-perkins-46b943 Get 30% off an annual Tiimo subscription 👉 https://www.tiimoapp.com/offers/adhdchatter Buy Alex's book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817 Order Alex’s book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e Producer: Timon Woodward Recorded by: Hamlin Studios Trailer editor: Ryan Faber DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

SPEAKERS

Alex Partridge
host
Host of ADHD Chatter, interviewing guests about ADHD-related topics and sharing personal context.
Dr Jo Perkins
guest
Clinician and ADHD/burnout expert explaining signs of clinical burnout and when to seek professional help.

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of ADHD Chatter Podcast, featuring Alex Partridge and Dr Jo Perkins, 3 Signs You've Hit Clinical Burnout and Should Seek Help | Dr Jo Perkins explores recognizing clinical burnout in ADHD: warning signs, masking, recovery pitfalls Burnout is not simple tiredness that sleep fixes; it’s cumulative depletion from chronic stress when recovery no longer restores capacity.

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