
Ask Me Anything – E49: I Don't Know Who I Am Anymore (How to Find Your Way Back When Burnout Took Everything)
From Untethering Shame by Kyira Wackett
May 20, 2026 · 9 min · Season 1 · Episode 49
About this episode
In this episode, Kyira Wackett addresses a listener's struggle with identity loss due to burnout and offers insights on reconnecting with oneself.
★ Join the Energy Audit: A free seven day email challenge starting May 24th to help you identify what is draining you and what is restoring you. https://adversityrising.com/the-energy-audit In this episode, I respond to a question from an anonymous listener who writes: "I've been running on empty for so long that I genuinely don't remember what it felt like to be okay. I don't know what I like anymore. I don't know what I want. I don't even know who I am outside of everything I do for everyone else. How do I find my way back to myself when I don't even know where to start?" We examine the reality of "Burnout Identity Erosion" and why forgetting who you are is a logical outcome of chronic survival mode. This conversation shifts the perspective from finding a lost version of yourself to actively writing your next chapter. Inside This Episode Burnout Identity Erosion: How your nervous system trades joy and curiosity for basic survival. The Shame of Losing Yourself: Why abandoning yourself to hold everything together is not a personal failure. Radical Authorship: Why identity is not something you find, but something you actively write. Breadcrumbs to Yourself: How noticing small…
People in this episode
Host: Kyira Wackett
Topics covered
- burnout
- identity
- self-discovery
- mental health
- authenticity
Keywords
- burnout
- identity erosion
- self-discovery
- mental health
- authenticity
- energy audit
- survival mode
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Adversity Rising
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