How Do I Know If I’m Burning Out — and How Can Therapy Help?
Burnout can sneak up on you slowly. At first, it might look like needing more sleep. Then maybe it feels harder to be around people. Tasks feel heavier. You start saying “I’m fine” — but something feels off.
If this sounds familiar, you might be moving beyond regular tiredness into burnout — the kind that’s emotional, physical, and nervous-system-deep.
Let’s talk about what burnout really feels like, how it differs from everyday stress, and how therapy can help you begin recovering gently — without pushing or pressure.
What Is Burnout — Really?
Burnout is more than being tired.
It’s what happens when you’ve been carrying too much for too long — without adequate rest, support, play, or recovery. Your nervous system stops asking for breaks and starts shutting down to protect you.
Common signs include:
You feel emotionally flat, numb, or overwhelmed by small things
You’re tired all the time, even after resting
You’re more irritable or reactive than usual
You can’t seem to focus or stay present
You’ve lost motivation, interest, or connection to things that normally light you up
You're doing the things — but you’re not really in them
Burnout can affect your sleep, appetite, memory, digestion, energy, and even your sense of identity.
Who Is Most at Risk of Burnout?
Anyone can burn out — but you’re more likely to if:
You’re a caregiver or hold emotional space for others
You’re a deep feeler or highly sensitive person (HSP)
You’re neurodivergent and constantly masking to fit in
You’ve experienced trauma or learned to “push through” everything
You struggle to rest without guilt
You’re used to functioning at a high level — even when struggling internally
Burnout doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong.
It often means you’ve been doing more than anyone realises, for longer than is sustainable, without being properly supported.
What’s the Difference Between Burnout and Stress?
Stress is often temporary and tied to a specific situation or internal/ external experience. Once it resolves, you generally return to a baseline.
Burnout is what happens when that stress becomes chronic, internalised, and affects your ability to function or feel like yourself.
If you’ve been in survival mode for a long time, burnout can start to feel normal.
But it’s not. And you don’t have to live there.
How Can Therapy Help with Burnout?
Therapy isn’t a quick fix — but it can be a place where you finally stop pretending you're okay.
Here’s how it can support you:
Creating space to slow down. You won’t be rushed to “get better” or explain everything.
Learning to listen to your body. Exploring the signals of your nervous system in a safe, supported way.
Naming what’s been held. Sometimes the act of naming what you've carried is enough to begin softening it.
Rebuilding your capacity. Through tools for regulation, self-trust, and emotional safety.
Working gently with guilt, perfectionism, or internalised urgency. Especially common in sensitive, neurodivergent, or caregiving clients.
A Few Gentle Prompts to Check In With Yourself
If you're not sure whether you're burning out or "just tired," try asking:
Am I constantly overwhelmed by things that didn’t used to feel hard?
Do I feel numb, shut down, or disconnected from myself?
Do I get anxious or irritable about having to do anything?
Am I avoiding rest because I feel guilty, or because I don’t know how?
Is my capacity much lower than it used to be — even if I’m “functioning”?
If you nodded to more than one of those — your body might be asking for support.
You Don’t Have to Keep Holding It Alone
Burnout isn’t a personal failure — it’s your system’s way of saying something needs to change.
Therapy can be a place where that change begins gently — without needing to perform, push, or prove anything.
Counselling with Mollie offers trauma-informed, neuro-affirming support for people who are burnt out, overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, or simply done pretending they’re fine.
You’re welcome to book a free 15-minute discovery call to explore whether working together feels supportive.