Burnout doesn’t always look like collapse.
Sometimes it looks like perfection. Control. Numbness. Or pushing away the person who loves you most.
In this raw and grounded conversation, Erin sits down with bestselling author and speaker AK Dozanti, whose own story of walking away from law enforcement reveals what adrenal fatigue, identity loss, and nervous system crash really look like behind closed doors. But this isn’t a war story, it’s a love story.
From avoiding intimacy due to past relationship self sabatoge to sleeping 18 hours a day on the couch, due to adrenal fatigue, AK shares the quiet moments that shaped her healing and the marriage-saving code word that changed everything.
YOU’LL HEAR:
- What burnout in a relationship actually looks like
- Why adrenal fatigue and high-functioning survival mode often go undetected
- How masculine/feminine energy impacts connection
- Why it’s hard to receive love when you feel unworthy
- The tool that helped AK and her husband de-escalate tension in real time
MENTAL FIREPOWER:
The “Iron Call”
When tension rises, AK and her husband use one phrase:
“I’m calling Iron.”
It’s their reminder to put the swords down—because when you’re fighting each other, you’re not fighting for each other.
This phrase redirects them back to partnership, connection, and growth.
Want to try it? Pick a phrase that reminds you you’re on the same team. Then use it when things start to spiral.
WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR:
- First responder couples silently falling apart
- Spouses who feel like they’re always walking on eggshells
- Partners trying to give support—but being shut out
- Burned-out overachievers who feel unworthy of rest or love
RESOURCES:
- Beat the Burnout by AK Dozanti – available at akdozanti.com
- Get a signed copy, find trainings, and learn more about AK’s work on her site
THE VIBE:
This isn’t about trauma-dumping or fluff.
It’s real-life insight from two people who’ve lived the wreckage and found their way back without losing their edge.
Music from #Uppbeat
https://uppbeat.io/t/needmospace/chill-power
License code: QUUZB4TP7STKMLJN
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