If you feel constantly tired but cannot switch off, emotionally flat yet strangely on edge, you are not imagining it. Many people experiencing prolonged stress begin to notice a confusing mix of burnout symptoms and anxiety symptoms at the same time.
You might wake up exhausted, push through the day on autopilot, then lie awake at night with a racing mind. You may still be functioning, even achieving, yet internally feel as though you are running on empty.
Burnout and anxiety are deeply connected. One can quietly feed the other until one feels stuck in a cycle of exhaustion and overthinking. The good news is that once you understand what is happening in your brain and body, you can begin to break that cycle.
In this article, we will explore how burnout develops, why anxiety often follows, what high-functioning burnout really looks like, and practical ways to feel calmer and regain control.
What Is Burnout & Why Does It Creep Up So Gradually?
Burnout rarely arrives overnight. It builds slowly, often disguised as dedication or responsibility.
At first, it may look like staying late to finish tasks, saying yes to extra commitments, or pushing through tiredness because “that is just life.” Over time, however, chronic stress keeps your nervous system activated. When your body does not get sufficient recovery time, emotional exhaustion begins to take hold.
The World Health Organisation describes burnout as a result of unmanaged workplace stress, but it also affects parents, carers, and anyone carrying sustained emotional pressure.
What Are the Symptoms of Burnout?
If you have found yourself asking, what are the symptoms of burnout, you are likely already noticing changes.
Common burnout symptoms include:
- Ongoing fatigue, even after rest
- Emotional detachment or numbness
- Increased irritability
- Loss of motivation or enjoyment
At first, these signs can feel subtle. You may simply describe yourself as tired or fed up. Over time, however, motivation dips further, and even small tasks feel overwhelming.
For many people, burnout does not look dramatic. It looks like quiet depletion.
What Is High-Functioning Burnout & Why Is It So Common?
High-functioning burnout is especially common among high achievers and caring individuals. You may continue meeting deadlines, supporting others, and appearing composed. On the outside, nothing seems wrong.
Internally, though, it feels very different.
You may notice a loss of enthusiasm for things that once mattered. You may feel emotionally flat or secretly resentful of constant demands. Rest might feel unproductive or even uncomfortable.
Because performance remains steady, this type of burnout can last longer before being addressed. That is why it is important to recognise that productivity does not equal wellbeing.
How Does Burnout Turn Into Anxiety?
Burnout and anxiety share the same root cause: prolonged stress.
When your brain perceives constant pressure, it activates the fight or flight system. This system is designed for short-term survival. It is not designed to stay switched on for weeks or months.
As burnout deepens, your emotional resources become depleted. When you are exhausted, your brain becomes more sensitive to perceived threats. Small issues feel larger. Uncertainty feels dangerous.
This is where anxiety symptoms often increase.
You might experience:
- Racing thoughts that are difficult to quiet
- Muscle tension or tightness in the chest
- Feeling restless even when sitting still
- A constant sense that something might go wrong
Research from the American Psychological Association confirms that chronic stress significantly increases the risk of anxiety disorders.
Burnout weakens resilience. Anxiety amplifies perceived threat. Together, they create a powerful cycle.
How Can You Spot the Overlap Between Burnout and Anxiety?
The table below highlights how burnout and anxiety differ, yet often coexist.
be the beginning of feeling calmer, clearer, and more in control again.
| Burnout | Anxiety |
|---|---|
| Linked to specific roles or pressures | Can affect multiple areas of life |
| Emotional exhaustion and detachment | Persistent worry and fear |
| Reduced motivation | Heightened alertness |
| Feels like depletion | Feels like an internal alarm |
When both are present, you may feel exhausted yet unable to relax. Drained but mentally busy. Detached yet tense.
The NHS explains that anxiety becomes a concern when worry interferes with daily life or feels difficult to control.
If you recognise both columns in your own experience, you are not alone.
Why Do High Standards Increase Risk?
People who experience burnout and anxiety often have strong values. They care deeply about doing things well. They are reliable, supportive, and capable.
However, high standards can create internal pressure.
You may hold beliefs such as:
“I must not let anyone down.”
“I should be able to cope.”
“If I stop, everything will fall apart.”
These thoughts feel responsible, but they keep the stress system activated. Over time, this sustained pressure contributes to both burnout symptoms and anxiety symptoms.
Learning to question these beliefs does not mean lowering standards. It means making them sustainable.
What Can You Do to Break the Cycle?
Recovery does not require drastic life changes. It requires consistency and awareness.
Firstly, prioritise restorative sleep. Poor sleep keeps the nervous system sensitive. Even small improvements in bedtime routine can reduce anxiety intensity.
Secondly, practise realistic boundary setting. Notice where you automatically say yes. Pause before committing. Giving yourself space to consider reduces reactive decision-making.
Thirdly, gently challenge unhelpful thinking patterns. When you notice catastrophic thoughts, ask yourself whether they are facts or stress-driven predictions.
Finally, incorporate daily nervous system resets. Slow breathing, walking outdoors, and guided relaxation can gradually shift your brain out of survival mode.
These changes may feel small, but when repeated consistently, they reduce stress load and increase resilience.
How Can Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy Support Recovery?
Solution-focused hypnotherapy works by helping you understand how your brain processes stress. Rather than analysing the past, it focuses on building coping strategies in the present.
By calming the primitive brain, hypnotherapy reduces the intensity of stress responses. As stress decreases, both burnout symptoms and anxiety symptoms often begin to ease.
Clients frequently describe feeling clearer, sleeping better, and regaining emotional balance. When the stress bucket is no longer overflowing, thinking becomes more logical and less reactive.
If you would like to learn more, you may find these pages helpful:
Take the First Step Towards Feeling Calm and in Control
If you recognise yourself in this cycle of exhaustion and worry, you do not have to continue pushing through alone.
Vicky Leschallas Clinical Hypnotherapy offers a free initial consultation where you can explore what is happening in your brain and how to begin calming the stress response.
Taking one small step towards support can be the beginning of feeling calmer, clearer, and more in control again.
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