The Hidden Epidemic: What is an Emotional Recession?

According to Joshua Freedman, in his article “Resilience in Recessionary Times: Emotional Intelligence Strategies to Stay Grounded in Escalating Challenge”, we are living in what he calls an emotional recession. It is a time when stress is high, resilience is low, and our mental and emotional capacity feels constantly depleted.

If you’re finding that even simple conversations or choices leave you feeling tired, you’re not alone. What you’re feeling is real.

Freedman uses a simple metaphor: imagine your emotional energy as water in a bucket.

Micro-leaks: constant notifications, unfinished tasks, mental overload, unresolved tensions
Macro-drains: overcommitment, loss of clarity or purpose, major life changes

When your emotional bucket is running low, you become more reactive, less focused, and more vulnerable to burnout.

So, what do we do when life keeps poking holes in our bucket?

1. Stop pouring faster—and start patching the leaks.

Sometimes we try to solve depletion by working harder, pushing longer, or forcing ourselves to “power through.” But the answer isn’t speed—it’s awareness. What are your biggest emotional leaks? Maybe it’s the constant ping of messages, a lack of boundaries, or saying yes when you really mean no.

You can’t refill what’s still leaking.

2. Refill with intention, not obligation.

Rest isn’t a reward for productivity—it’s the fuel for it. The same way your phone needs a charge to function, your brain needs recovery time to perform. That might mean micro-breaks between meetings, laughter with people who fill your bucket, or taking a quick walk.

3. Rethink balance—it’s about deliberate imbalance.

We’ve been sold the myth of perfect balance, but real life doesn’t work that way. Some days, one area will need more from you, and something else will have to give. It’s okay to lean in more to one place while you let go of another. Aim for deliberate imbalance.

Protecting your energy, aligning your time with impact, and focusing on what matters most are part of what I unpack in my new book, EvolvAbility: Growing Forward When Life Goes Sideways.

It’s not about bouncing back—it’s about moving forward, even when you’re tired, uncertain, or stuck in survival mode.

You can’t control the pace of change—but you can control how you protect, optimize, and replenish your energy in the middle of it.