Am I burned out or just tired?
We all feel tired from time to time — especially when life gets busy. But sometimes that tiredness goes deeper. You may notice that no amount of sleep helps, that your motivation is slipping, or that even simple tasks feel overwhelming. This is often when people begin to wonder: Am I just tired, or am I burned out? Individual Counselling in Vancouver can help you figure this out.
Burnout is more than fatigue — it’s a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by prolonged stress. Understanding the difference can help you know when to slow down, when to rest, and when it might be time to seek support.
Signs You May Be Burned Out (Not Just Tired)
1. Rest doesn’t help.
If you wake up exhausted even after a full night’s sleep, burnout could be the cause. Tiredness improves with rest; burnout lingers.
2. You feel emotionally drained.
Burnout often brings feelings of emptiness, numbness, or hopelessness. Tiredness is physical, while burnout impacts your mood and outlook.
3. You’re detached from work or relationships.
Burnout can create cynicism or a sense of disconnection — from your job, your responsibilities, or even the people you love.
4. Small tasks feel overwhelming.
With burnout, even simple tasks like answering an email or cooking dinner can feel like too much. Tiredness usually doesn’t affect daily functioning this much.
5. Physical symptoms increase.
Burnout often shows up in the body: headaches, stomach issues, tension, or frequent illness. It may be time to see if Anxiety Counselling in Coquitlam can help.
Why Burnout Happens
Burnout doesn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of stress building up over time, without enough opportunities for your mind and body to recover. Often, it creeps in so gradually that you don’t notice it until you feel completely drained.
Here are some of the most common reasons burnout develops:
1. Work pressure and unrealistic expectations
Deadlines, long hours, and constant pressure to perform can leave you feeling like there’s no room to pause. Even if you love your job, being “always on” slowly chips away at your energy reserves. Over time, exhaustion turns into resentment and disengagement.
2. Caregiving responsibilities
Whether you’re raising children, caring for aging parents, or supporting a partner, giving so much of yourself without replenishing your own energy often leads to burnout. It’s not that you don’t care — it’s that you’ve been carrying more than any one person should. Couples Counselling in Vancouver can offer you and/or your partner support through this journey.
3. Perfectionism and high self-expectations
Some people push themselves relentlessly, feeling they must never fall short. While striving for excellence can be motivating, perfectionism makes it impossible to feel “done” or “good enough.” This constant pressure to achieve leaves very little room for rest.
4. Blurred boundaries between work and home life
Remote work, smartphones, and cultural pressure to “always be available” mean many people never truly switch off. When your work seeps into evenings, weekends, or family time, the line between personal life and responsibilities disappears — and rest becomes harder to find.
5. Prolonged emotional strain
Burnout isn’t just about workload. Long-term stress from unresolved trauma, ongoing relationship conflict, or financial worries can be just as draining as a demanding job. When your emotional energy is tied up in constant vigilance or worry, there’s little left for everyday life.
6. Lack of support
Feeling like you have to manage everything alone can make stress overwhelming. Without a safe outlet to talk through challenges — whether that’s a friend, colleague, or counsellor — problems can feel heavier and recovery slower.
Burnout happens because your resources (time, energy, emotional resilience) are being used up faster than they’re being replenished. It’s not a personal failing — it’s a sign that something in your environment, expectations, or support system is out of balance.
How Counselling Can Help with Burnout
Therapy provides a safe space to explore what’s contributing to your exhaustion and to rebuild healthier coping strategies. Meet our team of Registered Clinical Counsellors in Vancouver, Coquitlam, and across BC
A counsellor can help you:
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Recognize early warning signs of burnout
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Set realistic boundaries at work and home
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Process the emotions underneath your exhaustion
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Learn stress management tools to restore balance
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Reconnect with your values and motivation
At Clearheart Counselling, we work with adults across Vancouver, Coquitlam, and virtually throughout BC to address burnout and stress. Our counsellors use evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help clients recover energy, clarity, and resilience.
FAQ: Burnout vs. Tiredness
Q: How do I know if I need counselling for burnout?
If you’ve tried rest and self-care but still feel exhausted, detached, or unable to function as you normally would, counselling can help you identify root causes and build strategies for recovery.
Q: Can burnout go away on its own?
Mild burnout can sometimes improve with rest and lifestyle changes. More severe burnout often requires deeper support to make lasting changes.
Q: Is burnout the same as depression?
They share similarities, but they’re not the same. Burnout is usually tied to chronic stress and demands, while depression is a broader mood disorder. A counsellor can help differentiate and guide you toward the right care.
Q: What are the stages of burnout?
Experts often describe burnout as progressing in stages: initial stress, sustained fatigue, withdrawal or irritability, and finally deep exhaustion or detachment. Recognizing early stages can help prevent full burnout.
Q: How long does it take to recover from burnout?
Recovery varies. With rest and therapy, some people feel better in weeks, while others need months to rebuild balance and energy. Healing depends on your stress load, support system, and self-care practices.
Q: Can counselling really help with workplace burnout?
Yes. Counselling can help you explore patterns contributing to burnout (like perfectionism or difficulty setting boundaries), develop healthier coping tools, and create strategies for sustainable work-life balance.
Q: What’s the difference between being tired from lack of sleep and burnout?
Tiredness improves with a good night’s rest. Burnout persists regardless of sleep and is often accompanied by emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced motivation.
Taking the First Step
If you’ve been asking yourself, “Am I just tired, or am I burned out?”, it may be time to talk to someone. You don’t have to push through on your own.
At Clearheart Counselling, we’re here to help you recover balance, energy, and hope.
📅 Book a free 15-minute consultation today — in Vancouver, Coquitlam, or virtually across BC.