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 MARKERS00:00 Intro01:09 Brad joins and heavy topic02:28 Early anxiety and trade culture06:21 House purchase and burnout14:36 Depression and anger stories22:33 Pro Clima resource plug23:42 Getting help and couples counselling28:55 CBT tools and coping strategies30:45 2022 crash and new limits32:03 Crash Changed Everything36:43 Income Protection Lesson38:19 Identity Crisis After Injury39:17 Perfectionism On Site47:15 Hempcrete Engineering Failure55:38 2024 Break That Fell Apart57:09 Solo Builder No Backup59:08 Work Dries Up Fast01:00:45 Family Pressure Hits01:02:05 Job Starts Then Sinks01:02:52 Grinding Solo On Site01:03:32 Delays And Cashflow Reality01:04:58 Burnout And No Life01:07:26 Asking For Help01:12:35 Therapy And Breaking Point01:22:20 Support Network And Reset01:28:10 Rebuilding Habits And Confidence01:32:09 Advice On Communication01:37:01 Closing Thoughts On ListeningOur Sponsors:Pro Clima - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclimaMEGT - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/megtSBA - https://www.thesba.com.au/Biz Tech Guru: https://www.biztechguru.com.au/Connect with us on Instagram: @themindfulbuilderpodConnect with Hamish:Instagram: @sanctumhomesWebsite: www.yoursanctum.com.au/Connect with Matt: Instagram: @carlandconstructionsWebsite: www.carlandconstructions.com/