Manchester Counselling Therapy Team
INTRODUCTION
WHAT BURNOUT REALLY FEELS LIKE
Burnout often builds up gradually, making it hard to pinpoint when it begins. Many people dismiss the early signs, thinking they’re just going through a rough patch.
You might notice:
Constant fatigue, no matter how much you rest
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
Feeling detached or numb
Becoming more irritable or withdrawn
A sense of dread about work or responsibilities
These symptoms don’t just affect your mind—they show up in your body too. Headaches, digestive issues, disrupted sleep, and lowered immunity are all common physical signs. According to a Mental Health UK survey, one in five workers feels unable to manage pressure and stress in the workplace.
Burnout often overlaps with anxiety and depression, but its roots lie in chronic overload. The longer it goes unaddressed, the deeper it can set in.
COMMON CAUSES OF BURNOUT
Burnout isn’t just about having too much on your plate—it’s about the conditions that make recovery impossible. Some common contributors include:
Unmanageable workload: Long hours, unrealistic deadlines, or constantly being "on."
Lack of control: Feeling powerless over your schedule, role, or responsibilities.
Poor work-life boundaries: Especially with remote work, the line between personal and professional life can blur.
Unclear expectations or values conflict: Working in a role that doesn’t align with your values or where feedback is inconsistent.
Isolation: A lack of support from managers, colleagues, or even friends and family.
Burnout can also arise from non-work-related roles—such as caring for a loved one or managing the pressures of parenting without adequate support.
RECOVERY DOESN’T MEAN “BOUNCING BACK”
Burnout recovery isn’t about snapping back to how things were. It’s about creating a new way of living—one where your needs aren’t sidelined.
Start with small shifts:
Rest that actually restores: Sleep is essential, but so is emotional rest. Spend time with people who lift you, engage in activities that don’t feel like a task.
Name the problem: Giving language to what you’re feeling (burnout, not laziness or weakness) is powerful.
Reassess boundaries: Where can you say no? Where can you ask for help?
Seek meaning: Reconnect with values and activities that feel purposeful. Even small acts of meaning can counter the emotional void of burnout.
If these steps feel overwhelming, start with just one. Recovery isn’t a race. It’s a reconnection.
WHEN TO SEEK SUPPORT
You don’t need to hit rock bottom to ask for help. If you’ve tried to make changes but still feel stuck, talking to a mental health professional can help you understand what’s happening—and how to move forward.
Therapy offers space to:
Untangle the root causes of burnout
Learn strategies to manage stress and emotional fatigue
Rebuild your sense of self outside your productivity
Left untreated, burnout can deepen into depression or anxiety. But with support, most people recover—and emerge more attuned to their needs.
At Manchester Counselling, we help people not just cope with burnout, but understand it. Through our therapist-matching service, we connect you with someone who understands the toll of chronic stress and can guide you towards sustainable change.
You don’t need to keep pushing through. When you’re ready, we’re here to help you come back to yourself.
Mental Health UK. (2024). Burnout – signs, causes and support.
NHS. (2024). Stress and burnout.
HSE. (2023). Work-related stress, anxiety or depression statistics in Great Britain.
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