When Pushing Hard Starts Pushing You Down: The Hidden Toll of Overtraining
’ve always loved the feeling of working hard — the sweat, the structure, the rhythm of pushing past limits. There’s something about it that makes you feel alive, capable, unstoppable. Until it doesn’t.
Overtraining is one of those things that sneaks up on you. It’s not just about physical exhaustion — it’s that slow emotional unraveling that happens when your body and mind have been saying “enough” for a while, and you just keep telling them “five more minutes.”
I used to think being tired all the time just meant I was disciplined. That sore, drained feeling was something I wore like a badge of honor. But at some point, I stopped recovering — not just physically, but mentally. The motivation that used to drive me started to feel like pressure. I wasn’t chasing joy anymore; I was running from guilt.
That’s the tricky part about overtraining. It’s rarely just about exercise. It’s about what we believe pushing harder says about us. That we’re strong. That we’re committed. That we’re not the kind of person who gives up. But when your body starts breaking down — when your mood dips, your sleep is off, and everything you used to love feels heavy — that’s not commitment anymore. That’s a cry for balance.
The psychological side of overtraining can hit harder than the muscle fatigue. You start to lose confidence. You get irritable. Small mistakes feel huge. You might even start resenting the thing you used to love most — your sport, your training, your goals. And the worst part? You might still keep going, because stopping feels like failure.
I get it. I’ve been there. And if you’re reading this and thinking, yeah, that’s me right now, I just want you to know — taking a step back isn’t weakness. It’s wisdom. Your worth isn’t measured in reps, miles, or hours logged. It’s in your ability to listen to your body and honor what it needs.
Rest doesn’t mean quitting. It means recovering — physically, emotionally, mentally. It means letting your body catch up to your willpower. Sometimes it means talking it out, admitting that maybe you’ve been running on more pressure than passion lately. And that’s okay. That’s human.
If you’re an athlete, a fitness enthusiast, or even just someone who’s been grinding non-stop — try giving yourself permission to pause. Reflect. Check in with how you feel outside of your training routine. Because burnout in the body always starts with burnout in the mind.
I say this as a therapist, but more so as a friend who’s had to learn it the hard way:
Pushing through pain doesn’t make you stronger — healing does.
If you’ve been feeling off lately — fatigued, down, or like you’ve lost your spark — you’re not alone. Overtraining happens to driven people, and that drive can be redirected into something more sustainable. Sometimes a reset is exactly what brings you back stronger, happier, and more grounded than before.
If this resonates, or you want a space to unpack what “balance” actually looks like for you, I’d love to connect. You can reach out through AbbeyRoseTherapy.com — no judgment, just real conversations about what’s going on beneath the surface.
Warmly,
Abbey Vince, AMFT
