Understanding Stress and Burnout

Feeling stressed from time to time is part of everyday life, but when stress becomes constant or overwhelming, it can start to impact your mental, emotional, and physical health.

Burnout occurs when stress builds over time and your capacity to cope starts to decline. It’s often experienced as exhaustion, disconnection, or the sense that you’re simply running on empty.

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How Stress and Burnout Can Show Up

Emotional & Mental Signs:

• Feeling constantly overwhelmed or drained

• Racing thoughts, irritability, or anxiety

• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions

• Feeling detached, unmotivated, or “numb”

• Loss of joy or purpose

Physical Signs:

• Fatigue or low energy

• Tension headaches, digestive issues, or poor sleep

• Increased illness or sensitivity to stress

Behavioural Signs:

• Withdrawing from others

• Pushing through without rest, then crashing

• Overworking or avoiding responsibilities altogether

• Relying more on food, alcohol, or screens to cope

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Why Does Burnout Happen?

Stress and burnout are often the result of taking on too much responsibility with insufficient support.

Some contributing factors include:

• High-pressure jobs or caregiving roles

• Perfectionism or people-pleasing

• Feeling like it’s “not okay” to say no or take breaks

• Unresolved emotional pressure or past trauma

• Lack of rest, balance, or time for yourself

Often, burnout affects individuals who are highly responsible, hardworking, and deeply caring — until they can’t sustain the pace.