Burnout and Stress

Whether you describe yourself as a high achiever or someone wearing multiple hats in life, you most likely have experienced burnout and stress, but only question it when you feel like you cannot sustain a life feeling the way you do. Most people ignore the signs of burnout until they feel like they aren’t functioning like they use. Even after taking vacations, meditating, or trying to push yourself to “get over it,” you eventually end up in the same spot. Some typical signs of burnout are listed below:

  • Experiencing increased irritability and easily quick to feel frustrated or annoyed

  • Feeling numb or going through autopilot mode

  • Urge to cry or having moments of tearing up

  • Feeling stuck and hopeless

  • Difficulty with sleep

  • Constantly worrying and thinking about what needs to get done or if you’ve completed your responsibilities

  • Stress eating or reduced appetite

  • Headaches, body-aches, stomach discomfort

  • Tension, heart palpitations, chest tightness, shortness of breath

  • Feeling increasingly stressed and sad the night before work week or work day starts

  • Difficulty getting out of bed

  • Minimal energy to spend time with others or enjoy leisure activities

  • Procrastinating or avoiding tasks and responsibilities

  • Spending hours on other activities to distract self from current tasks and responsibilities (ie doom scrolling social media, staying in bed, calling out sick repeatedly)

  • Feeling inadequate and engaging in negative self talk and criticism

If you experience any of the above and can’t seem to get out of the cycle, it will gradually impact your overall well being and personal relationships. Sometimes long term burnout can increase risk for physical health problems and mood disorders. There is no quick fix especially if you have experienced any of the above mentioned symptoms, but considering therapy may be the first step to help you recover from burnout.

Therapy isn’t just supplying you with self help books or recommending you to take time off to heal, but it provides support for you to explore the underlying reasons and stressors that cause on-going stress/burnout; help you navigate the guilt, deep rooted core beliefs, maladaptive behaviors/habits, pressure, and expectations that keep you stuck. If you want to give yourself the chance to break the cycle, reach out for a free phone consultation before you schedule an appt for therapy.