Chronic Stress & Burnout

You’re Not Lazy—You’re Running on an Empty Tank

You used to handle it all—the long hours, the constant demands, the never-ending to-do list. 

But now? 

You’re exhausted in a way that sleep doesn’t fix. 

Your brain feels slow – like you’re wading through molasses just to make basic decisions. 

The smallest tasks feel overwhelming.

And no amount of “pushing through” seems to help.

This isn’t just stress—it’s burnout.

Chronic stress doesn’t just wear you down—it rewires your brain and body. 

When stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline stay elevated for too long, they disrupt sleep, focus, immune function, and emotional regulation (Sapolsky, 2015). 

Burnout happens when your nervous system stops responding to stress the way it used to—not because you’re weak, but because your system has been overworked for too long (Maslach et al., 2021).

The good news? 

Burnout isn’t permanent. 

With the right tools and support, you AND your brain can recover.

💡 You don’t have to keep running on empty. 

Let’s figure out how to reset.

What We Support

Chronic Stress: When Your Nervous System Won’t Power Down

Stress isn’t always a bad thing—it’s your brain’s way of preparing you for challenges. But when stress becomes constant, your body gets stuck in fight-or-flight mode, keeping your system on high alert long after the danger is gone (McEwen, 2017).

🔹 Signs You’re Living in Chronic Stress Mode:

• Constantly feeling on edge or easily irritated
• Trouble sleeping, even when exhausted
• Frequent headaches, stomach issues, or unexplained body pain
• Difficulty focusing or remembering things
• Feeling like you can’t ever “catch up” or slow down

💡 Your nervous system wasn’t built for 24/7 survival mode. Let’s get it back to baseline.

Burnout: When Stress Turns Into Exhaustion

Burnout isn’t just about working too hard—it’s what happens when your brain and body have nothing left to give (Maslach & Leiter, 2016). 

It’s more than just being tired—it’s a complete mental and emotional depletion.

🔹 Signs of Burnout:

• Feeling emotionally numb or disconnected from things you used to care about
• Struggling to find motivation, even for basic tasks
• Increased procrastination or avoidance—because everything feels overwhelming
• Feeling cynical or detached from work, relationships, or life in general
• A deep, bone-level exhaustion that rest doesn’t fix

💡 Burnout isn’t a sign of failure—it’s a sign that something needs to change. 

Let’s work on getting you back to yourself.

Autistic & ADHD Burnout: When the World Wasn’t Built for Your Brain

For neurodivergent people, burnout isn’t just about doing too much—it’s about masking, overstimulation, and living in an environment that doesn’t accommodate your needs (Mandy, 2019). 

Autistic and ADHD burnout can leave you feeling disconnected, exhausted, and struggling with executive function in ways that feel debilitating.

🔹 Signs of Neurodivergent Burnout:

• Sensory overload—everything feels too loud, too bright, too much
• Increased shutdowns or meltdowns when demands pile up
• Losing access to basic executive functioning skills (forgetting tasks, struggling with decisions)
• A deep need to withdraw from social situations
• Feeling like you’ve lost who you are beneath the exhaustion

💡 You shouldn’t have to burn yourself out just to exist in a world that wasn’t built for you. 

Let’s create support that actually fits.

Why Burnout Recovery Matters

Burnout isn’t just about feeling tired—it’s about rebuilding your capacity to function, focus, and actually enjoy your life again. 

Pushing through doesn’t work because your system is already maxed out. 

Recovery means shifting the way you approach stress, work, and rest in a way that actually sustains you.

With the right support, you can:

✅ Retrain your nervous system to get out of chronic stress mode

✅ Develop strategies for energy management that don’t lead to burnout

✅ Learn how to set boundaries without guilt or fear

✅ Recover focus, motivation, and emotional resilience

✅ Build a sustainable way of living that doesn’t require constant exhaustion

💡 Burnout doesn’t have to be your baseline. 

Let’s start your recovery.

How We Can Help

🧠 Nervous System Regulation

• Teaching your brain and body how to shift out of survival mode
• Identifying energy leaks that contribute to burnout
• Somatic techniques to calm an overstimulated system

📊 Practical Strategies for Sustainable Living

• Learning how to set boundaries that actually work
• Structuring work and rest in a way that prevents burnout
• Creating realistic, neurodivergent-friendly routines

🛑 Burnout Recovery, Not Just Stress Management

• Identifying what’s driving the burnout cycle in your life
• Addressing perfectionism, guilt, and over-functioning tendencies
• Learning how to rest effectively (because lying in bed doomscrolling isn’t rest)

💡 Your brain can recover—and we can help. 

Let’s create a plan together.

References

• Mandy, W. (2019). Social camouflaging in autism: Understanding the costs and benefits. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 20(11), 664–675.
• Maslach, C., & Leiter, M. P. (2016). Burnout: The cost of caring. Malor Books.
• Maslach, C., Leiter, M. P., & Schaufeli, W. B. (2021). Measuring burnout. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 17, 397-421.
• McEwen, B. S. (2017). Neurobiological and systemic effects of chronic stress. Chronic Stress, 1, 1-11.
• Sapolsky, R. M. (2015). Why zebras don’t get ulcers: The acclaimed guide to stress, stress-related diseases, and coping. Holt Paperbacks.

This version blends validating, research-backed explanations with actionable strategies, keeping it grounded, direct, and solution-focused. Let me know if you’d like any tweaks! 🚀