When Coping Starts Taking Too Much Energy
Anxiety, stress, and burnout do not always look like falling apart.
You may still be working, caring for others, meeting deadlines, and getting through your days while privately feeling tense, exhausted, irritable, disconnected, or unable to switch your mind off.
You might notice yourself:
- constantly thinking ahead or worrying about what could go wrong
- replaying conversations or second-guessing decisions
- feeling responsible for keeping everything together
- struggling to relax without feeling guilty
- pushing through exhaustion because there is always more to do
- procrastinating because even small things are starting to feel overwhelming
- being hard on yourself when you cannot keep up
- wondering why you feel this way when your life looks fine from the outside
You do not need to wait until things become unmanageable before asking for support.
Did you know? Anxiety can keep your nervous system on alert even when there is no immediate danger, which is why it can be hard to simply “switch off.”
Anxiety, Stress and Burnout Often Overlap
Anxiety can keep your mind searching for the next problem to solve. Chronic stress can leave your body feeling as though it never fully gets to stand down. Burnout can develop when demands continue to exceed the time, energy, and emotional resources you have available.
For some people, perfectionism, people-pleasing, ADHD, difficult relationships, caregiving, work pressure, or experiences from the past add another layer.
Therapy can help you understand what is driving the pattern rather than simply finding better ways to push through it.
How Therapy Can Help
Therapy is not simply about learning how to calm down.
It can help you understand the patterns underneath the anxiety or exhaustion, become less caught up in worry and overthinking, recognize where perfectionism or over-responsibility may be taking over, establish healthier boundaries, and respond differently to difficult thoughts and emotions.
For some people, therapy is relatively short-term and focused. For others, it becomes an opportunity to understand longer-standing patterns or experiences that continue to affect how they feel today.
Individual Psychotherapy
For many people, individual psychotherapy provides space to look beyond the immediate symptoms and understand the patterns underneath them.
Therapy can be short-term and focused or more exploratory depending on what you are looking for.
Learn more about Psychotherapy
Prefer Something More Structured? Try ACT on Anxiety
If anxiety is getting in the way but you are not looking for open-ended therapy, ACT on Anxiety offers a focused six-week place to start.
You will meet individually with a therapist for six weekly 60-minute sessions and work through a guided workbook designed to help you understand anxiety and build practical skills you can use in everyday life.
Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), you will learn how to step back from anxious thoughts, respond differently to uncomfortable emotions, practice greater self-compassion, and keep moving toward what matters to you even when anxiety shows up.
ACT on Anxiety may be a good fit if you:
- experience mild to moderate anxiety or panic
- want practical strategies and exercises
- like the idea of a clear six-week structure
- are willing to practice skills between sessions
6 individual sessions | 60 minutes each | $125 per session
Abby is available to provide the ACT on Anxiety program.
Burnout is not only about being busy. It can develop when demands consistently exceed your available time, energy, and emotional resources.
What If Anxiety Is Connected to Trauma?
Sometimes anxiety is connected to experiences from the past.
You may feel constantly alert, easily triggered, unable to settle, emotionally shut down, or notice that your body reacts strongly even when you know you are safe.
When trauma may be contributing to what you are experiencing, trauma-focused therapy can help you better understand and work through those patterns.
For some clients, EMDR Therapy may also be appropriate.
You do not need to know whether you need psychotherapy, trauma therapy, or EMDR before contacting us. We can help you figure out the right place to start.
Finding the Right Therapist
Anxiety, stress, and burnout are concerns our therapists work with regularly. You don’t need to choose a therapist or know which type of therapy you need before reaching out.
During your free consultation, we’ll learn a little about what has been happening and can help you narrow down the options based on your needs, preferences, availability, and budget.
Not sure who to choose? Our intake team can help match you with a therapist based on what you are looking for, your schedule, your budget, and the kind of approach that may fit you best.
We offer in-person therapy in Burlington and virtual therapy across Ontario.
