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Peter Shearman’s story will resonate with anyone who’s ever pushed themselves too hard for too long.

A lifelong introvert working in a world that rewards extroversion, Peter spent years trying to meet expectations that didn’t quite fit. Over time, the constant pressure to perform, please and stay “on” caught up with him — leading to anxiety, exhaustion and eventually burnout.

During the pandemic, things reached a breaking point. Disconnected from decision-making at work and fearing for the future, he finally sought help from his GP and began treatment for anxiety and depression. What followed was a long, non-linear recovery — from the physical and emotional crash, through medication and CBT, to rebuilding his sense of self-worth on healthier ground.

In this episode, Peter talks about what he’s learned: why it took so long to ask for help, the role of shame in burnout, and how he now measures success by the quality of his actions, not their outcomes. It’s an honest, relatable conversation about pressure, recovery and learning to be kinder to yourself.

Here are the timestamps for our core questions:

0:00 – Dan’s opener and overview

2:09 – Intro to Peter

6:22 – Why Peter came on the show

11:44 – How was your last week?

15:35 – How has your relationship with your mental health evolved?

55:46 – Have there been any lightbulb moments for you?

1:06:56 – What’s the most important thing someone going through this can do?

More info about the series:

https://goodenoughchats.com

If you’ve been affected by anything raised in this episode, please know you’re not alone. You can speak to someone at:

• NHS – https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/

• CALM – https://www.thecalmzone.net/

• Samaritans – https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/

• Mind – https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/seeking-help-for-a-mental-health-problem/where-to-start/