WHAT IS BURNOUT?

What Is Burnout?

Burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion resulting from prolonged stress without adequate recovery. Unlike short‑term stress, burnout develops gradually and does not resolve with rest alone.

Common Signs of Burnout

Signs may include chronic fatigue, irritability, reduced motivation, emotional detachment, difficulty concentrating, and stress spilling into personal relationships.

Burnout vs Stress

Stress often involves feeling overwhelmed but engaged. Burnout involves depletion, disengagement, and reduced capacity.

Why Burnout Develops

Burnout is often shaped by ongoing demands, lack of boundaries, chronic responsibility, and misalignment between expectations and capacity.

Supporting Burnout Recovery

Recovery focuses on nervous system regulation, workload patterns, boundaries, and sustainable engagement.

When Professional Support May Help

Support may be helpful when exhaustion persists, rest is ineffective, or functioning is compromised.

Core Psychology offers evidence‑based counselling for burnout and chronic stress in Calgary and across Alberta, both in-person and online.