Why Burnout Isn’t Just Stress: Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore

Why Burnout Isn’t Just Stress: Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore

Understand the difference—and how to protect your well-being.

You’re Not Lazy, You’re Burnt Out

If you’ve found yourself hitting “snooze” five times before dragging yourself out of bed, zoning out during meetings, or snapping at people you care about—know this: You’re not broken. And you’re not alone.
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Many high-achieving professionals and caregivers mistake burnout for ordinary stress, pushing themselves harder when what they actually need is rest, support, and healing.
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In this post, we’ll walk you through the real signs of burnout, how it differs from everyday stress, and what you can do—starting today—to protect your mental health.

What Is Burnout, Really?

Burnout isn’t just a buzzword. It’s a recognized psychological state that results from prolonged, unmanaged stress—particularly in high-pressure environments like demanding jobs, caregiving roles, or academic settings.

👉 The World Health Organization (2019) defines burnout as:

​“A syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.”

But burnout doesn’t only affect people in traditional workplaces. Parents, students, entrepreneurs, and healthcare workers are especially vulnerable, too.

Burnout vs. Stress: What’s the Difference?

While stress is your body’s short-term reaction to demands or threats, burnout is what happens when that stress becomes chronic and unresolved.

✅ Self-Check: Are You Experiencing Burnout?

Here are a few signs to watch for:
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• 😓 Constant exhaustion—even after a full night’s sleep
• 💬 Cynicism or irritability, especially toward work or loved ones
• 🔄 Feeling like nothing you do makes a difference
• 🧠 Trouble focusing or making decisions
• 🛑 Loss of motivation for things you used to enjoy
• 🚫 Avoiding social interactions because you "just can't"

If you recognized yourself in more than a couple of these, it might be time to take a deeper look—and offer yourself real support.

Why Burnout Is So Common (Especially in Women)

Burnout often affects those who care deeply, take on emotional labour, and strive to be “everything to everyone.” That’s why women—especially working professionals, parents, and helping professionals—are disproportionately affected.

🧠 Did You Know?

Women are twice as likely to report symptoms of burnout compared to men, especially in professions like healthcare, education, and social work (McKinsey & Company, 2022).

How Virtual Therapy Can Help

Burnout doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means your nervous system needs a reset, your (internal and external) boundaries need fine tuning and strengthening, and your emotional needs deserve tending to--not just pushed aside.

At Deep Sea Psychology, our virtual therapists hold expertise in helping adults across Alberta, Ontario, and BC who are dealing with:

• Masked anxiety, depression, trauma and burnout
• Emotional exhaustion from caregiving or overwork
• Identity stress (e.g., BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+ folks in white-, and/or cishet- dominated spaces)
• Perfectionism, people-pleasing, and emotional overwhelm

🧠 We don’t just offer coping tools—we help you reclaim your energy and self-worth.

💡 Therapist Insight

“Burnout recovery isn’t necessarily about doing less—it’s about doing differently. That often means learning how to say ‘no’ without guilt, and to value rest as much as productivity.”

When to Reach Out

🧭 If you’re wondering whether therapy is “really necessary,” consider this:
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• Are you holding it together for everyone else… but falling apart inside?
• Do your weekends feel like survival mode instead of rest?
• Have you started fantasizing about disappearing, quitting, or just hitting pause on life?

These aren’t failures. They’re signals—that you’ve been carrying too much, too long, without enough support.

Ready to Start Feeling Like Yourself Again?

Burnout is real. So is recovery. Our team of compassionate, qualified therapists is here to support you through it--with expert, virtual care designed around your schedule.

👉 Book a Consultation
👉 Meet Our Therapists
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You don’t have to push through alone. Let’s make space for your healing.

About the Author

Silvia Eleftheriou, MEd, RPsych (she/they) is a queer, femme, child of immigrants, a registered psychologist in Alberta and B.C., advocate for anti-oppressive, trauma informed, and culturally responsive mental health care, and clinical director of Deep Sea Psychology.