Burnout

Feeling emotionally drained, unmotivated, or overwhelmed by work or life? Burnout is more than just stress — it’s a state of physical and emotional exhaustion that can leave you feeling depleted and detached. At Head Start Counselling & Psychology, we help you understand the signs of burnout and provide tailored support to recover and reset.

What Is Burnout?

Burnout is a response to ongoing, unmanaged stress — especially from work. Originally defined by psychologist Herbert Freudenberger, burnout includes:

• Exhaustion (mental, physical, or emotional)
• Cynicism or detachment from work or others
• Reduced effectiveness and motivation

While burnout and depression can overlap, burnout is typically tied to work stress, while depression tends to affect all areas of life more broadly.

Common Symptoms of Burnout

• Chronic fatigue or poor sleep
• Headaches, gut issues, or frequent illness
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• Feeling numb, hopeless, or emotionally flat
• Loss of motivation or interest in work
• Irritability, detachment, or withdrawal
• Suicidal thoughts (seek immediate help via 000 or Lifeline on 13 11 14)

Who’s at Risk?

Burnout can affect anyone — but is especially common among:

• Healthcare, education, and social service professionals
• Workers facing excessive demands or unclear roles
• People with perfectionist or self-critical tendencies
• Those juggling work, caregiving, or emotional load
• Workplace factors (e.g. lack of support, unfair treatment, time pressure) often play a major role.

How to Recover from Burnout

Recovery takes intention and support. Key strategies include:

• Setting boundaries and redefining priorities
• Seeking therapy to process stress and regain clarity
• Improving sleep, diet, and physical activity
• Practising mindfulness and self-compassion
• Reconnecting with meaningful activities or values
• Speaking with a supervisor or HR about workload issues

How We Can Help

At Head Start Counselling & Psychology, our psychologists and counsellors work with you to:

• Identify burnout and its impact
• Develop practical, sustainable coping strategies
• Build emotional regulation and resilience
• Explore underlying perfectionism or people-pleasing patterns
• Reconnect with your values and personal goals