The Silent Weight Nurses Carry - and How Hypnotherapy Can Help

brooke tiziani
May 10
3 min read

By Jennifer Alvarado, RN, BSN, Clinical Hypnotherapist

Founder Alvarado Clinical Hypnotherapy

You became a nurse because you care deeply.You stayed a nurse because you’re strong, capable, and determined to make a difference.But somewhere along the way, the line between helping others and carrying the world on your shoulders got blurry.

Maybe you’ve noticed it:

The anxiety that lingers long after your shift ends.
The guilt when you say “no” or even think about setting a boundary.
The voice in your head whispering, "You have to be perfect. You can’t make a mistake. You have to take care of everything."

If any of that sounds familiar—you’re not alone.And more importantly: There’s nothing wrong with you. But there may be something wrong with the beliefs you’re carrying.

Where These Beliefs Start

In the hospital, perfectionism feels almost like a survival skill. Mistakes can have real consequences. The stakes are high.

But the truth is, for many of us, that “always be perfect” programming didn’t start when we got our nursing license. It started much earlier.Maybe it was growing up in a household where love or praise was tied to achievements. Maybe it was learning that being "good" meant being quiet, helpful, and self-sufficient—even when you needed help yourself.

By the time you entered nursing, those beliefs were already rooted deep in your subconscious:"If I don’t do everything, no one will.""If I make a mistake, I’m a failure.""My worth is tied to how much I give."

You didn’t consciously choose these thoughts.They were wired into you.

And now, no amount of bubble baths, yoga classes, or weekend getaways seem to make a real dent in the exhaustion and overwhelm.

Because self-care is important—but it doesn’t rewrite subconscious beliefs.

Why Hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy isn’t about mind control or swinging watches. (That’s Hollywood.)

It’s a powerful, clinically supported method for helping you access your subconscious mind—the place where old patterns live.

When you’re in a relaxed, focused state (like during hypnotherapy), you can uncover the roots of perfectionism, self-doubt, and guilt. You can finally understand why you feel responsible for everything… and why no amount of rational “I know I’m doing enough” talk can fully quiet that voice.

And once you uncover those roots, you can reprogram them—with new beliefs that actually support you, not weigh you down.

Beliefs like:

"I can be human and still be an extraordinary nurse."

"Taking care of myself allows me to take better care of others."

"Mistakes don’t define my worth."

This isn’t about "fixing" you. You’re not broken. It’s about freeing you.

My Story

I’m not speaking to you from an outsider’s perspective.

I’ve been a nurse for over 12 years. I’ve worked in pediatrics, NICU, hospice, trauma stepdown—and I know firsthand the culture of do more, give more, be more that runs through our profession.

I also know what it’s like to lie awake at night replaying every decision you made during a shift… wondering if you did enough, if you were enough.

That’s why I turned to hypnotherapy—and why I became a clinical hypnotherapist myself. Because after trying every surface-level fix and still feeling the same deep exhaustion, I realized I needed to change the inside—not just the outside.

And now, I help other nurses do the same.

If You’re Feeling This Way, You’re Not Alone

Maybe you’ve told yourself it’s just part of the job.

Maybe you think if you were just a little stronger, you wouldn’t feel so overwhelmed.

Maybe you’ve accepted that this is just how it is.

But it doesn’t have to be.

You don’t have to live trapped under the weight of impossible expectations.

You don’t have to stay stuck in survival mode.

You don’t have to do it alone.

This Nurses Week, I invite you to give yourself something different:

Real support. Real relief. Real, lasting change.

Because when you heal from the inside out, everything else gets lighter.

Ready to Begin?

If you're curious about how hypnotherapy can help you let go of perfectionism, guilt, and overwhelm, I would love to talk with you.

I offer free consultations where we can connect, answer your questions, and see if this work feels like the right fit for you.

You give so much to others.Now it's your turn.

Click here to schedule your free consult: Zcal.co/subconsciousnurse

You deserve more than survival.You deserve to feel free, fulfilled, and fully you.

Jennifer Alvarado, RN, BSN, Clinical Hypnotherapist