Is It Burnout or Just Stress? How to Tell the Difference (And What to Do About It)

You’ve had a long week. You’re juggling work, family, appointments, errands—and you’re feeling drained. But lately, something feels different. Your usual bounce-back isn’t happening. You’re not just tired, you feel emotionally numb. The tasks that used to feel manageable now feel impossible.

Sound familiar?

It might be more than just stress—it could be burnout.

Stress vs. Burnout: What’s the Difference?

Stress is a normal response to demands. It usually shows up as:

• Feeling overwhelmed or anxious

• Racing thoughts or restlessness

• Trouble sleeping or concentrating

• Physical symptoms like headaches or tension

  
  

Burnout, on the other hand, is the result of prolonged, unmanaged stress. It shows up as:

• Emotional exhaustion and detachment

• Feeling hopeless or stuck

• Decreased motivation or productivity

• Cynicism or irritability

• Physical fatigue that doesn’t go away with rest

  
  

You can think of stress as the fire, and burnout as the ashes that remain when the fire has burned too long.

Why Burnout Is So Common—Especially Now

Burnout isn’t just a workplace issue—it can affect parents, caregivers, students, and anyone trying to keep it all together. Since the pandemic, burnout has surged as boundaries between work and home have blurred, emotional labor has increased, and many people have lost the ability to fully “unplug.”

If you identify as a high-functioning adult who is often praised for being strong or capable, you may be even more prone to ignoring the signs of burnout until it becomes unbearable.

When Rest Isn’t Enough

You might try to push through burnout with a weekend nap, a vacation, or a bubble bath—but those short-term solutions can only do so much. Burnout recovery requires:

• Emotional processing (naming what’s happening without shame)

• Boundary repair (reclaiming time, space, and energy)

• Realignment with your values and needs

This is where therapy becomes a game-changer—not just for symptom relief, but for meaningful, long-term change.

Therapy Can Help You Reconnect and Recharge

At Grind to Growth Therapy, PLLC, I help adults across Washington State recover from burnout and rediscover their emotional footing. In therapy, we’ll work together to:

• Identify the patterns that led to burnout

• Learn emotional regulation tools that work in the real world

• Strengthen boundaries with compassion (not guilt)

• Reconnect with joy, rest, and personal agency

5 Signs You Might Be Burned Out (Not Just Stressed)

• You feel disconnected from people or passions you used to care about.

• You wake up tired—even after a full night’s sleep.

• You fantasize about quitting your job, disappearing, or starting over.

• You feel numb or emotionally “flat.”

• Your inner voice has become hypercritical or hopeless.

If you nodded your head to several of these, it might be time to seek support.

📚 Helpful Resource:

• Article: "12 Signs You’re Burned Out—and What to Do About It" – Psychology Today

• Book Recommendation: Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily and Amelia Nagoski