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The Truth About Emotional Crashes in Business (And How to Regulate After High Output)

If you're a coach, healer, practitioner, or space holder, you've probably experienced that moment after a big launch or intense client session when the adrenaline wears off and you feel completely drained. It's that overwhelming exhaustion that hits after giving everything you have—whether it's after a high-energy launch, holding space for someone’s deep emotional work, or providing a transformative service. It can feel like a crash. But here’s the important part: This isn’t burnout. This is the crash.

And this crash? It’s something that you, as a soul-led entrepreneur, need to meet with care, not shame. The emotional drop that follows high-output moments is real, and it’s essential to understand how to recover from it so that you can continue doing the impactful work you do without draining yourself.

Welcome to Resourced with Jessica Read, the space where we dive into the real, raw, and often unspoken emotional terrain of running a soul-led business. Today, we're not talking about strategy. We're talking about what happens after the launch, after the intense client session, after you've held space for everyone else—when you realize there's no one holding space for you.

This episode is dedicated to those of you who are space holders, healers, coaches, and emotional anchors in your communities. If you often find yourself carrying more than you let on, or you’re struggling to know how to navigate the emotional aftermath of a big output, this is for you. We’re going to explore the truth behind emotional crashes and how to regulate when the emotional and physical fallout kicks in.

What Causes the Emotional Crash After High Output Moments?

The emotional crash after a high-output season—whether that’s a launch, a series of client sessions, or a period of intense visibility—isn’t a personal failure. It’s simply a nervous system response to the stress, excitement, and energy demands of those moments.

Let’s break down why this happens: During high-output seasons, like launches or emotional work with clients, your body runs on elevated cortisol and adrenaline. You’re in a constant state of alertness, tracking everything around you, handling the high energy, and managing the emotional and mental demands of your work. Your body is in sympathetic dominance, which is your "go" mode, where everything is fast-paced and action-oriented.

However, once the event or high-energy period is over, your body has to come down from this heightened state. Just like an athlete who feels drained after a race, your nervous system needs time to regulate back down. This is the dorsal or hyper-arousal state, and it can leave you feeling fatigued, emotionally flat, anxious, or uncertain. This isn’t burnout yet—it’s just your body’s natural way of restoring balance after intense activity.

But here’s the catch: if you don’t recognize this crash and fail to tend to it, it can eventually lead to burnout, which is much harder to recover from.

The Link Between Your Nervous System and Emotional Crashes

The emotional crash you’re experiencing after a high-output moment is not a personal flaw—it’s your nervous system’s natural rhythm. Your nervous system doesn’t differentiate between holding space for others and holding space for yourself. When you're guiding others through emotional work, your body feels their emotions. Even with all the training, skills, and boundaries you’ve developed, your system absorbs the emotional energy.

You’re not a machine, you’re a deeply attuned and sensitive being, and that’s what makes you so good at your work. But it’s also what makes you prone to emotional crashes. The emotional residue from holding space for someone else’s trauma, grief, or healing can remain in your system long after the session is over, which leads to emotional exhaustion.

In business, when you're holding space for multiple clients, managing launches, and navigating the pressure to perform, this emotional residue can accumulate and lead to feelings of emotional flatness, doubt, or uncertainty. You may wonder why you're feeling so depleted after what seemed like a successful period. Why does everything feel so heavy? That’s the emotional crash—and it’s a sign from your body that you need to prioritize recovery.

How to Recognise the Difference Between Depletion and Dysregulation

It’s important to differentiate between depletion and dysregulation. Depletion occurs when you’ve given so much energy, and your body simply needs rest to restore. Dysregulation, on the other hand, happens when your nervous system has been knocked off balance, often due to the buildup of unprocessed emotional energy.

Here are some signs that you're dysregulated rather than just depleted:

• You feel emotionally numb or overly sensitive.

• Your thoughts are clouded by self-doubt or confusion.

• Your body is experiencing physical symptoms, like headaches or digestive issues.

• You’re finding it difficult to bounce back to your usual energetic state.

If you're simply depleted, rest, nourishment, and time away from the work will restore you. But if you're dysregulated, your nervous system needs more than just rest—it needs intentional care and regulation.

The Power of an Energetic Recovery Plan

As a coach, healer, or practitioner, it’s essential to have an energetic recovery plan in place. This isn't just a nice-to-have—it’s a non-negotiable for sustainable business growth and personal wellbeing. Your energetic recovery plan should include practices for nervous system regulation, emotional integration, and energetic boundaries.

Here are some key elements to include in your toolkit:

1. Nervous System Regulation Practices:

• EFT Tapping: A powerful tool to regulate your nervous system and release emotional tension.

• Breathwork: Helps to activate the vagus nerve and bring your body back into balance.

• Vagus Nerve Activation: Techniques like humming, singing, or even just deep breathing can help calm your nervous system.

• Nature Connection: Spending time outside or simply orienting yourself to nature can help reset your system.

2. Energetic Boundaries and Recovery:

• Closing Rituals: After each session, make sure you have a ritual to release any emotional energy you’ve absorbed. This could be as simple as shaking, taking a salt bath, or visualizing a protective boundary around your energy.

• Cord Cutting: Use visualization or physical practices to release any entanglements from your clients or the work you’ve done.

3. Emotional Integration Tools:

• Journaling: Use prompts to reflect on what you’re holding in your body and mind. Ask yourself: What is mine, and what is not mine?

• Movement: Sometimes, physical movement can help release pent-up emotions. You might dance, stretch, or engage in any movement that helps you feel more grounded.

4. Safety Anchors for the Come Down:

• Cosy Rituals: Treat yourself to a warm blanket, tea, candles, or any comforting practice that helps signal to your body that it's time to relax and soften.

• Offline Time: After a launch or intense period, be intentional about taking time offline. This helps reset your nervous system and gives your body space to recover.

The Importance of Having Someone Hold Space for You

It’s easy to get caught up in the momentum of holding space for others, but what happens when you’re the one who needs to be held? This is where having a mentor, coach, or support system becomes invaluable. You need someone who can hold space for you, someone who understands the emotional journey of running a business and can help you navigate the inevitable emotional crashes that come with it.

As business owners, we’re always giving—whether it’s holding space for our clients or pouring our energy into our launches. But without someone to hold space for you, it can be easy to feel like you’re constantly giving without receiving. That’s why having a support system—whether it's a mentor, peer group, or energy worker—is so crucial for your long-term success.

Creating Your Own Energetic Toolkit

The first step in building your own energetic toolkit is recognizing that it’s not a luxury; it’s a necessity. You can’t pour from an empty cup. Your toolkit should be tailored to your unique needs, but it should always include practices that allow you to regulate your nervous system, set energetic boundaries, and integrate emotions in a healthy way.

Here’s a quick recap of what should be in your toolkit:

1. Nervous System Regulation Practices: EFT tapping, breathwork, vagus nerve activation, nature connection.

2. Energetic Boundaries and Recovery: Closing rituals, cord cutting, and time offline.

3. Emotional Integration Tools: Journaling, movement, and self-check-ins.

4. Safety Anchors for the Come Down: Cosy rituals, offline time, and intentional rest.

And remember, recovery isn’t a one-time event. It’s an ongoing practice. By incorporating these tools into your daily routine, you’ll be able to bounce back from emotional crashes faster and show up for your clients with the energy and clarity they need.

As you navigate the emotional highs and lows of running a soul-led business, remember that your well-being is not a sacrifice for your work. Your business, your clients, and your income will all benefit from you taking the time to care for yourself and regulate your nervous system.

If you're in the midst of a launch or high-energy season, don't wait for the crash. Be proactive. Set yourself up with the tools you need to recover before, during, and after your high-output moments. After all, sustainable business success is about balancing your energetic capacity and ensuring that you're giving from a place of abundance, not depletion.

If this resonated with you, here’s how we can go deeper together:

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💌 Explore all my offers above or DM me on Instagram (@jessica.read.ilc) and let’s talk about building the business that’s truly meant for you.