I hit rock bottom, everyone thought I had it all

"How rock bottom do you have to let me hit before you actually help me?" Brad McEwan’s words hung in the air after we wrapped, because they’re all too familiar in the building industry. In this episode, we go past the surface stuff and talk honestly about what it looks like when you’ve been carrying it all, hoping someone will notice, and then realising you’re running out of road. From the outside, Brad looks like the guy who’s got it sorted, with business, family, and good people around him. But he shares how quickly “I’m fine” can turn into snapping at work, shutting down at home, and feeling like you’re watching yourself unravel in slow motion. If you’re a builder, tradie, or business owner who’s been pushing through stress and burnout, this conversation will hit close to home. We chat about why grit without communication becomes isolation, and how stress shows up in your relationships, sleep, patience, and confidence. Brad talks about what actually helped, including getting the right psychological support and learning practical tools to manage anxiety and mental health in real life, not just in theory, especially in high-pressure trade work. This episode challenges the usual definition of “tough” and offers a better way forward, with space to step back, reset, and redefine success without losing your identity. This conversation includes mental health and suicide. If it brings anything up for you, you don’t have to sit with it alone. In Australia, Lifeline is available 24/7 on 13 11 14 or at https://www.lifeline.org.au/. If you’re in immediate danger, call 000. ## CHAPTER MARKERS 00:00 Intro 01:09 Brad joins and heavy topic 02:28 Early anxiety and trade culture 06:21 House purchase and burnout 14:36 Depression and anger stories 22:33 Pro Clima resource plug 23:42 Getting help and couples counselling 28:55 CBT tools and coping strategies 30:45 2022 crash and new limits 32:03 Crash Changed Everything 36:43 Income Protection Lesson 38:19 Identity Crisis After Injury 39:17 Perfectionism On Site 47:15 Hempcrete Engineering Failure 55:38 2024 Break That Fell Apart 57:09 Solo Builder No Backup 59:08 Work Dries Up Fast 01:00:45 Family Pressure Hits 01:02:05 Job Starts Then Sinks 01:02:52 Grinding Solo On Site 01:03:32 Delays And Cashflow Reality 01:04:58 Burnout And No Life 01:07:26 Asking For Help 01:12:35 Therapy And Breaking Point 01:22:20 Support Network And Reset 01:28:10 Rebuilding Habits And Confidence 01:32:09 Advice On Communication 01:37:01 Closing Thoughts On Listening **Our Sponsors:** Pro Clima - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima MEGT - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/megt SBA - https://www.thesba.com.au/ Biz Tech Guru: https://www.biztechguru.com.au/ **Connect with us on Instagram:** @themindfulbuilderpod **Connect with Hamish:** Instagram: @sanctumhomes Website: https://www.yoursanctum.com.au/www.yoursanctum.com.au/ **Connect with Matt:** Instagram: @carlandconstructions Website: https://www.carlandconstructions.com/www.carlandconstructions.com/