Stress and Burnout
Understanding Stress and Burnout
Support that helps you recover and reset
Stress is a natural part of life — but when it becomes chronic or overwhelming, it can wear us down emotionally, physically and mentally. Burnout is more than just exhaustion. It’s a state of persistent stress that leads to emotional depletion, reduced motivation, and a sense of disconnection from work, relationships or even yourself.
At Sommers Psychotherapy, we work with individuals who are feeling stretched beyond capacity, helping them understand what’s happening and guiding them through the process of burnout recovery. Whether you’re struggling with daily stressors, navigating a high-pressure job, or wondering why everything suddenly feels harder than it used to, we’re here to help you find clarity and relief.
What is Stress?
Stress is a natural human response to a demand or challenge. In small amounts, it can boost performance and focus. But when stress becomes prolonged, unpredictable or inescapable, it begins to take a toll on both body and mind. Stress triggers the release of hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which prepare the body to respond quickly. Over time, chronic exposure to these chemicals can lead to sleep issues, irritability, anxiety, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating.
Stress can come from many directions — work, finances, health concerns, family dynamics or internal pressures to “do more.” Even positive life changes like promotions or moving house can become sources of stress if not properly managed. When stress accumulates without adequate rest or support, it can lead to burnout.
What is Burnout?
Burnout is a state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion caused by long-term exposure to chronic stress. It often results from trying to meet constant demands without enough time for rest, reflection or recovery. Unlike everyday stress, burnout doesn’t resolve with a single weekend off. It’s a deeper state of depletion that impacts mood, motivation and sense of purpose.
The World Health Organisation defines burnout as an “occupational phenomenon” characterised by:
- Emotional exhaustion
- Detachment or cynicism about one’s work
- Reduced personal efficacy or achievement
But burnout isn’t limited to the workplace. It can also show up in caregiving roles, education, parenting, or in managing chronic illness or high-functioning anxiety. The common thread is feeling like you have to keep going — no matter what — even when your system is telling you it’s had enough.
Signs of Chronic Stress and Burnout
Recognising the signs of burnout early can help you take steps before reaching a full shutdown. Some common symptoms include:
- Constant fatigue, even after sleep
- Feeling irritable, overwhelmed or emotionally flat
- Trouble concentrating or making decisions
- A sense of dread about work or daily tasks
- Detachment from loved ones or colleagues
- Physical symptoms like headaches, stomach problems, or tension
- Losing motivation in areas that once felt meaningful
- Feeling like you’re “just getting through the day”
These signs can overlap with depression or anxiety, but burnout is its own distinct experience, often tied closely to context (like job demands or emotional caregiving) rather than internal mood patterns alone.
Stress and the Nervous System
Chronic stress and burnout impact how the nervous system functions. When we’re under ongoing pressure, the body remains in a heightened state of alert known as the “fight or flight” response. Over time, this can dysregulate the autonomic nervous system, making it harder to return to a calm baseline. You may feel constantly wired or numb, unable to relax even when the stressor is gone.
This state can affect sleep, digestion, memory, and immune function. It’s not just “in your head”—the physiological effects of stress are real and measurable. Therapy can support nervous system regulation by helping you understand these responses and learn tools to bring your body and mind back into balance.
Common Causes of Burnout
Burnout doesn’t happen because people are “too weak to handle stress.” It often affects highly driven, conscientious, or empathetic individuals—those who give their all, often without realising they’re running on empty.
Some common contributors include:
- Excessive workload or unrealistic expectations
- Lack of control or autonomy in work or life
- Poor boundaries, especially in caregiving or people-pleasing roles
- Unresolved emotional stress from past or ongoing experiences
- High-functioning anxiety, where people seem “fine” but feel overwhelmed inside
- Perfectionism or constant internal pressure to meet impossible standards
Burnout can also stem from working in environments that are misaligned with your values or where emotional labour is constantly required without support.
Burnout & Mental Health
Burnout often overlaps with mental health concerns such as:
- Anxiety: Heightened stress response may fuel ongoing worry
- Depression: Emotional exhaustion can mask joy and motivation
- Trauma: Past trauma may intensify current stress reactions
Our approach supports the whole person, addressing burnout alongside related mental health factors to create a cohesive, compassionate healing process.
The Path to Burnout Recovery
Recovery from burnout is not about pushing through—it’s about slowing down, making space, and restoring what’s been depleted. At Sommers Psychotherapy, we help clients work through burnout by:
- Identifying sources of stress (both internal and external)
- Reconnecting with personal values and goals
- Exploring perfectionism, people-pleasing and boundary challenges
- Developing strategies for nervous system regulation
- Rebuilding a sense of self-worth outside of productivity
Burnout recovery isn’t simply “getting back to normal.” It’s about building a more resilient life that supports you — honouring rest, meaning, boundaries, and connection. Burnout recovery is not one-size-fits-all. Some people need to make structural changes in their lives, like reducing workload or shifting priorities. Others need to reframe how they view success or allow themselves permission to rest without guilt. Therapy helps explore what this means for you.
Coping Strategies for Stress and Burnout
Therapy is a powerful tool in burnout recovery, but there are also day-to-day strategies that can help you regain your footing:
1. Create Space for Recovery
You don’t need to wait until you’re completely burnt out to take a break. Prioritise rest without needing to “earn it.” That might mean turning off email after hours, taking mental health days, or simply allowing stillness without guilt.
2. Reconnect With What Matters
Burnout often disconnects us from ourselves. Revisit activities that feel nourishing —creativity, movement, time in nature, quiet reflection. Even small moments of joy can begin to shift the nervous system toward recovery.
3. Practice Saying No
If over-commitment is contributing to stress, learning to say “no” can be a powerful act of self-care. Boundaries aren’t about pushing others away — they’re about protecting what you need to function and thrive.
4. Reassess Your Environment
Are there areas in your life where demands consistently exceed resources? Therapy can help you assess whether changes in workload, relationships or expectations might be necessary.
5. Seek Support That Fits
Talking through your experience with a qualified therapist offers perspective, validation, and practical steps forward. You don’t need to figure it out alone.
Why Choose Sommers Psychotherapy?
We specialise in helping individuals manage stress, burnout, and emotional well-being, offering compassionate and tailored support that fits your life. Whether you’re navigating long-standing stress, recent overwhelm, or seeking tools for sustainable change, we provide:
- A calm, supportive space to reflect and reset
- Practical strategies for burnout recovery and stress management
- A collaborative, non-judgmental approach that meets you where you are
- Online or in-person sessions to fit your schedule
We understand how stress affects not just your mind, but your whole way of being—and we’re here to support you in reclaiming balance, meaning and rest. Sessions are practical, jargon-free, and focused on real-world change, not short-term fixes.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, depleted or unsure how to move forward, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. Burnout recovery starts with recognising that what you’re experiencing is valid—and that support is available.
Book a session to speak with a member of our team, ask your questions, and explore how therapy might help. Whether you need strategies, space to think clearly, or just a starting point, we’re here to help you move forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
If stress feels constant and you’re no longer recovering between demands, it may be burnout. Key signs include emotional numbness, persistent fatigue, and a loss of motivation or enjoyment—even in things you once cared about.
Yes. Therapy helps uncover the roots of burnout and guides you in restoring emotional energy, regulating stress responses and building healthier patterns of rest and resilience. It also gives you space to clarify your values and re-align your life accordingly.
Burnout is often context-specific and linked to prolonged stress, while depression can occur with or without clear external triggers. They can overlap, but therapy helps distinguish and address both appropriately.
Many people experiencing burnout are still showing up to work, looking after others, and doing what’s needed—but it may feel robotic, heavy or joyless. Functioning doesn’t mean thriving. If your inner resources feel depleted, that matters.
There's no fixed timeline. Many people see improvements within weeks, but full recovery often involves months of steady support and lifestyle change.
FEES - Please contact each practitioner directly.
£110
For in-person sessions
£95
For online sessions