I Need a Career Change

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Dr. Laura Call of the Day

Episode: "I Need a Career Change"

Date: October 19, 2025
Host: Dr. Laura Schlessinger
Caller: Cynthia

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Dr. Laura takes a call from Cynthia, a veteran mental health professional struggling with severe burnout after 30 years in the field. Cynthia is seeking advice on making a career change as she nears retirement age and is hesitant about leaving a profession that has defined her for decades. Dr. Laura provides her trademark direct, empathetic counsel, helping Cynthia reframe her fears and embrace the possibility—and necessity—of new adventures.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Identifying True Burnout and Its Implications

• Cynthia openly shares that despite switching roles within mental health (e.g., from inpatient to urgent care), her burnout persists. She describes being unlike herself and overreacting at work.
  • [01:46] Cynthia: “I’ve been seeing burnout… I’ve had the same symptoms, just not being myself, just overreacting to people at work.”
• Dr. Laura swiftly addresses the necessity of recognizing when a phase of one’s career is truly over.
  • [02:19] Dr. Laura: “I think you ought not be working in mental health anymore because your mental health is suffering… You’re done. Stop fighting the truth. You’re done.”
• She emphasizes that finishing a long career doesn’t mean failure: "It's not bad or good. It doesn't mean you're weak or, or pathetic or stupid. It means you're done." [02:34]

2. Reframing Fear and the Idea of Career Change

• Cynthia expresses fear about pursuing something completely different, especially relating to income needs and uncertainty.
  • [02:56] Cynthia: “That’s the scary part.”
• Dr. Laura encourages viewing this transition as an adventure, not a threat. She humorously suggests roles far from Cynthia’s current field to spark imagination.
  • [03:04] Dr. Laura: “Why look at it as scary? Look at it as kind of interesting... why don’t you go work in a bakery? Good smells all day and free desserts. Scary. Stop with the scary.”
• She warns about the power of self-talk:
  • [07:08] Dr. Laura: “It’s all in how, in the words you use. Because your brain, your psyche listens to the words that come out of your mouth, and then it makes decisions. Okay, Cynthia's scared. Well, we'll make sure she doesn't do anything different until her head explodes and she's in the hospital.”

3. Avoiding Repeat Patterns

• Cynthia admits to applying for customer service jobs, thinking it’s a minor shift, but Dr. Laura points out that it’s the same issue—interacting deeply with people, which has become exhausting.
  • [03:49] Dr. Laura: “I didn’t say customer service. Working a bakery, I’d be in the back baking... If I’m sick and tired of dealing with people for 30 something years, I’m not going to sign up for a job where I’m doing the same thing.”

4. Letting Go of Identity Tied to Profession

• Cynthia struggles with the habit of helping others, even in her downtime and dreams.
  • [08:56] Cynthia: “I even have dreams about it. It’s ridiculous. I’ll be working at the state hospital again or something.”
• Dr. Laura compares this to a ballerina past her prime, normalizing the need to move on and embrace change:
  • [08:08] Dr. Laura: “It was a good run. Consider yourself a ballerina. At some point, you can’t get on your toes anymore, you know?”
• She coaches Cynthia to shift her internal dialogue from limitation (“I can’t”) to empowerment (“I don’t wish to do it anymore”) for a healthier mindset.
  • [09:09] Dr. Laura: “Let me hear you say that to yourself. The difference between I can’t because I’m weak and nuts… Or, you know, I don’t wish to do it anymore.”

5. Taking Action and Finding New Passions

• Cynthia vows to start doing something different daily, beginning with going to the gym after the call.
  • [09:46] Cynthia: “Starting today, 20 minutes of doing something different.”
• Dr. Laura shares her own experiences with creative outlets like sewing and learning leatherwork to illustrate how trying new things can be rewarding, even when starting as a beginner.
  • [10:00] Dr. Laura: “Doing something creative. Like, I’ve really gotten into sewing bags and purses and pouches. And now I took a lesson on Sunday how to work with leather... The first thing I made, I’d give it a C plus, B minus, more of a C. But I’m learning, and it’s something totally different.”

6. Decisive Next Steps and Affirmation

• Cynthia explains she won't pursue disability for burnout and has decided to formally quit her job to seek something new.
  • [10:38] Cynthia: “I’m just not gonna turn these forms. I’m gonna quit this job and try something new.”
• Dr. Laura strongly supports this, reminding Cynthia she deserves a break and fun after decades of serving others:
  • [11:00] Dr. Laura: “Worst that could happen is you don’t really like it. And then you’ll try something else, which you will like. Hey, you’ve told that to patients for 30 years, right? Physician, heal thyself. Give yourself a break. Go have some fun. Go learn something new. No negativity.”
• The call closes with encouragement to embrace playfulness and silliness as healing and essential elements of growth.
  • [11:53] Dr. Laura: “Go do something silly. I’m very much for do something silly because it helps your brain relax. Seriously.”
  • [12:02] Cynthia: "Sit down my earbuds and listen to some rock and roll music. And there, baby."
  • [12:12] Dr. Laura: “You got it, baby. All right. Rock and roll. Yeah. All right. Rock and roll. It’s where it’s at.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You’re done. Stop fighting the truth. You’re done.”
  — Dr. Laura [02:19]
• “There is nothing scary about a new adventure.”
  — Dr. Laura [03:26]
• “It’s all in how, in the words you use... your psyche listens to the words that come out of your mouth.”
  — Dr. Laura [07:08]
• “Consider yourself a ballerina. At some point, you can’t get on your toes anymore, you know?”
  — Dr. Laura [08:08]
• “You have been amazing. You’ve helped skrillians of people for 30 years, and now you’re done.”
  — Dr. Laura [11:28]
• “Go do something silly because it helps your brain relax. Seriously.”
  — Dr. Laura [11:53]

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Essential Timestamps

• 01:46: Cynthia describes her burnout and career struggles.
• 02:19–02:34: Dr. Laura delivers her clear, decisive advice: "You're done."
• 03:04–03:26: Discussion on fear versus adventure in career changes.
• 07:08: Dr. Laura explores self-talk and its impact on change.
• 08:08: “Ballerina” metaphor for knowing when to step away.
• 09:09: Mindset shift from “I can’t” to “I don’t wish to.”
• 10:00: Dr. Laura on creative hobbies and new learning as examples for Cynthia.
• 10:38–11:00: Cynthia commits to quitting and pursuing something new.
• 11:53–12:12: The call ends with laughter, music, and encouragement to "do something silly."

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Final Thoughts

This episode is a quintessential example of Dr. Laura’s tough compassion and clarity. She helps Cynthia not only accept, but embrace, the idea that moving on from a long, successful career is sometimes the healthiest—and bravest—choice. With humor, practical ideas, and deeply affirming advice, Dr. Laura encourages all listeners facing life changes to silence negativity and step forward into new adventures, silliness, and self-discovery.

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Transcript

[Dr. Laura Schlesinger]

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[Cynthia]

Hello Dr. Laura.

[Dr. Laura Schlesinger]

Hi.

[Cynthia]

I've been seeing burnout. Yeah. At work. I work in mental health for about 30 years and approaching the age of retirement, trying to look to see what else I can do that has not worked. I've gone back into, for example, working at urgent care versus inpatient and that hasn't. I've had the same symptoms, just not being myself, just overreacting to people at work.

[Dr. Laura Schlesinger]

And I think you ought not be working in mental health anymore because your mental health is suffering. You're done. It's many decades. You're done. You're done. Stop fighting the truth. You're done.

[Cynthia]

Okay?

[Dr. Laura Schlesinger]

You're done. There's nothing bad about that. It's just a reality. You're done. It's not bad or good. It doesn't mean you're weak or, or pathetic or stupid. It means you're done.

[Cynthia]

Okay?

[Dr. Laura Schlesinger]

So if you still need an income, you got to look at something else entirely different.

[Cynthia]

Okay? Okay. That's the scary part.

[Dr. Laura Schlesinger]

Why? Look at it as scary? Look at it as kind of interesting. I mean, I don't know if you like baked goods why don't you go work in a bakery? Good smells all day and free desserts. Scary. Stop with the scary. The minute you say that's scary, your brain says, okay, we're not going to do it. That's it.

[Cynthia]

Okay.

[Dr. Laura Schlesinger]

There's nothing scary about a new adventure. And if you didn't like working in a bakery, then you'd work in a ski shop.

[Cynthia]

Yes. I've tried applying like different places like Costco and just thinking the same way you customer service. Customer service. Just treat others the way you want to be treated. But I can't seem to.

[Dr. Laura Schlesinger]

I didn't say customer service. Working a bakery. I'd be in the back baking.

[Cynthia]

Right.

[Dr. Laura Schlesinger]

If I'm sick and tired of dealing with people for 30 something years, I. I'm not going to sign up for a job where I'm doing the same thing. No.

[Cynthia]

Okay. Yes. No, you're right. You're right. Dr. Laura.

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[Dr. Laura Schlesinger]

So instead of looking at this as scary, look at it. Between now and dead, you have the opportunity to have some adventures. If you do something for a couple of years and you go, well, that's interesting, but now I'm curious about such and such. You're not going to be scared to move on again. You're going to think, this is fun. Let me line that up. It's all in. How? In the words you use. Because your brain, your psyche listens to the words that come out of your mouth, and then it makes decisions. Okay, Cynthia's scared. Well, we'll make sure she doesn't do anything different until her head explodes and she's in the hospital. Yeah, seriously.

[Cynthia]

Because I've seen people come in with burnout and inpatient doctors, nurses.

[Dr. Laura Schlesinger]

It's more than that. You're done with this.

[Cynthia]

Mm.

[Dr. Laura Schlesinger]

It was a good run. Consider yourself a ballerina. At some point, you can't get on your toes anymore, you know?

[Cynthia]

Yes. And stop with the trying to help people and recreate that in my off time.

[Dr. Laura Schlesinger]

No.

[Cynthia]

Myself doing.

[Dr. Laura Schlesinger]

No, because you're got a habit going. But it's not the habit that's really filling you at this point. Part of you, part of you. And I hate parts. It's like when they show a cow and they say, this is the filet mignon. This. You know, I don't want to take us in parts. But in your head, you're thinking, that's all you have, right?

[Cynthia]

I even have dreams about it. It's ridiculous. I'll Be working at the state hospital again or something.

[Dr. Laura Schlesinger]

Yeah.

[Cynthia]

I can't do it anymore. I'm done. You're right.

[Dr. Laura Schlesinger]

And that's fine. There's nothing wrong with change. I can't do it anymore. To. Yeah, I don't want to do it anymore. Let me hear you say that to yourself. The difference between I can't because I'm weak and nuts and. Or, you know, I don't wish to do it anymore.

[Cynthia]

Right.

[Dr. Laura Schlesinger]

Let me hear you feel the difference. Say the two sentences.

[Cynthia]

I want to do something different. And I feel like I can get to that point.

[Dr. Laura Schlesinger]

Good. That's positive thinking.

[Cynthia]

Starting today, 20 minutes of doing something different.

[Dr. Laura Schlesinger]

Yeah.

[Cynthia]

Yeah. Going to the gym after this.

[Dr. Laura Schlesinger]

Doing something creative. Like, I've really gotten into sewing bags and purses and pouches. And now I took a lesson on Sunday how to work with leather, which is not easy. And all of this and just total beginner. And the first thing I made, I'd give it a C plus, B minus, more of a C. But I'm learning, and it's something totally different. I'm not answering anybody's problem except my own. How do I go around a curve? Neatly.

[Cynthia]

Mm. So I haven't been back to work. They're trying to say I have some kind of disability because I have burnout, and I'm not gonna do it. I have this appointment with the psychiatrist on Friday. I'm just not gonna turn these forms. I'm gonna quit this job and try something new.

[Dr. Laura Schlesinger]

Good for you.

[Cynthia]

Yeah.

[Dr. Laura Schlesinger]

Worst that could happen is you don't really like it. And then you'll try something else, which you will like. Hey, you've told that to patients for 30 years, right? Physician, heal thyself. Give yourself a break. Go have some fun. Go learn something new. No negativity.

[Cynthia]

No negativity and no negative thoughts.

[Dr. Laura Schlesinger]

Oh, squash them. Squash them. You have been amazing. You've helped skrillians of people for 30 years, and now you're done.

[Cynthia]

Yes. Yep. You're right. Dr. Laura, thank you so much.

[Dr. Laura Schlesinger]

Go have some fun.

[Cynthia]

Okay?

[Dr. Laura Schlesinger]

Go do something silly. I'm very much for do something silly because it helps your brain relax. Seriously.

[Cynthia]

Mm. Sit down my earbuds and listen to some rock and roll music. And there, baby.

[Dr. Laura Schlesinger]

You got it, baby. All right. Rock and roll. Yeah. All right. Rock and roll. It's where it's at. I'm Dr. Laura Schlesinger. My number one, 800-375-2872. Check out my social media. On Facebook and Instagram, I post stories, photos, and videos seven days a week and feature some of what you sent me to. There's always something interesting going on there. You can find me at facebook.com drlaura and instagram.com drlauraprogram.

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