Is it Stress or Burnout?
In this blog you will learn the difference between Stress and Burnout.
Chantal Francis
1/5/20251 min read
Am I stressed or burnt out?
If you're wondering whether what you're experiencing is Stress or Burnout, then you're in the right place to find out. These days it's become common for people to use the term 'burnt out' when they're feeling stressed, however, whilst Burnout can result from prolonged periods of stress, it's not the same as stress.
The difference between Stress and Burnout
Stress is dysregulation in your nervous system that tends to be short term. Whilst it can impact sleep, emotions, mood and energy, people who are stressed can still engage with activities and find motivation around their situation, and though it may feel uncomfortable for them, it doesn't exceed their personal resources and deplete them to a point where they feel hopeless and become detached.
Burnout is a state of mental, physical and emotional exhaustion caused by long-term conditions of stress that exceed resources and deplete you. This means your nervous system has less and less capacity to keep you in a state of balance. As a result, it saps your energy and motivation and impacts your ability to function. This leads to various symptoms and behavioural changes including:
Feeling hopeless, helpless, trapped.
Severe exhaustion.
Feeling overwhelmed.
Physical symptoms including: Gastrointestinal disturbances, frequent headaches, insomnia, muscle and joint pain, lowered immunity.
Feeling detached and isolated.
Loss of motivation.
Feelings of dissatisfaction and overall apathy.
Unable to focus and difficulty completing things.
Withdrawing from people and responsibilities.
Loss of sense of humour and easily irritable.
Reliant of coping mechanisms such as food, substances, alcohol to 'get through.'
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