THERAPY FOR
Chronic Stress & Burnout
The mental, emotional, and physical collapse we call burnout is often associated with work-related stress, but the truth is it can happen to anyone and can result from chronic stress across numerous life domains.
Stress related to parenting, caregiving, friendships, romantic relationships, health conditions—and yes, school and work—can all contribute to the chronic levels of mental, emotional, and physiological stress that lead to burnout. Helping professionals and those with people-pleasing or perfectionistic tendencies are especially prone to this kind of stress.
In the early stages of chronic stress:
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You may feel like you're being pulled in too many different directions or are subject to unrealistic expectations
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You feel pressured to do it all—perfectly, consistently, and with a positive attitude
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You may begin to notice that you're more frequently fatigued or irritable
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Maybe some of your basic self-care needs (like nutrition, rest, or physical activity) are falling by the wayside
As the stress continues, life begins to feel like an endless to-do list:
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​If I reach this milestone, surely things will finally settle down
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If I complete this task, I'll finally feel like I can rest
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If I satisfy this person, I'll have earned the right to some self-care
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If I can accomplish this goal, it will finally feel like enough
It begins to feel like your best will never be enough.
For every one item checked off the to-do list, two more come to take its place. You want to be available to loved ones, but find yourself resenting them as those relationships start feeling like "just one more thing," just one more person that needs something from you. Cue the guilt over being so irritable and unavailable, and the shame of not being able to give more.
Maybe you've been through this chronic stress cycle countless times but can't seem to get off the ride. Maybe you get sick or end up bedridden for a while, but the moment you begin to feel even a little bit better, you start all over again. And of course now you have to make up for time lost, right?
Part of you knows this isn't sustainable, but it feels like stopping isn't an option.​​
Here's the good news:
Your life is more than a to-do list.
Productivity can be a great thing. When we've completed a task or gotten a lot done, a sense of accomplishment usually follows. But when we're overworked or pulled in too many directions, stress starts to build and can become chronic. This leads to exhaustion and a sense of personal ineffectiveness, which drives us to push harder, to accomplish more. As the cycle continues, we actually become less productive and feelings of genuine accomplishment tend to diminish. Because our bodies are not designed to be under constant stress, this cycle can eventually lead to burnout.
In the modern world, productivity is often equated with morality. Hustle culture and the consumer mindset has led us to believe that more is always better, and that resting or—gasp!—doing nothing always equates to laziness. If you struggle with chronic stress or burnout, you've probably bought into this mindset on some level (don't worry, a lot of us have). Even if you know better, it can be difficult to break the cycle.
Here's the thing:
Your worth is not defined by your outward accomplishments. There is no finish line at the end of this life where your completed tasks will be tallied.
And beneath this cycle, you still reside.​​
It's time to realign.
Your system holds innate wisdom about your personal needs and limitations. This wisdom is the key to realignment—to creating a sustainable daily rhythm and building a life filled with meaning and joy.
I'm here to help you learn your system's language and tap into that wisdom.
In therapy, we’ll take a holistic approach and explore some of the things that could be contributing to chronic stress, including:
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Work or school environment
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Current roles and expectations
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Nutrition, sleep, and other health/lifestyle factors
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Childhood and cultural messaging
Together, we will:
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Get to know the roles and dynamics that lead you to take on too much
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Identify self-talk and expectations that create chronic stress and facilitate burnout
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Gain clarity around your personal values and how to prioritize them
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Explore realistic, sustainable ways to bring your needs and responsibilities into balance
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Strengthen your communication skills to help you set and maintain healthy boundaries
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Learn the language of your body and develop daily rhythms and habits that honor its needs
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Develop a prevention plan to help you realign when your system starts signaling that you've taken on too much
Ready to take the
next step
?
Frequently Asked Questions
ABOUT THERAPY FOR CHRONIC STRESS AND BURNOUT
I noticed you offer a free 15-minute consultation. Is this required to start therapy?
Is there a difference between feeling stressed and burnout?
Why does it seem like other people can handle more than I can? I feel like I get burned out so easily.
I have so many responsibilities that I can't afford to give up. How is therapy going to change that?
Still have questions?