Stress
There are many reasons why you may feel stressed, both positive and negative. Perhaps you started an exciting new job, or maybe you lost your job. Maybe a relationship sadly ended, or a new promising one is beginning. You could be a first-time parent, or grieving the loss of a loved one.
Common symptoms of stress include:
- Feeling overwhelmed and anxious
- Irritability, agitation, or mood swings
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, or making decisions
- Changes in appetite or sleep patterns – eating/sleeping too much or too little
- Working excessively or procrastinating
- Pacing, nail-biting, or other nervous habits
- Indulging excessively in food, alcohol, or other substances
- Making unhealthy choices
- Stomach issues, headaches, or back pain
- Getting sick frequently with colds or the flu
Stress can affect any part of your life and is a completely normal human experience. At times it can motivate us to action, while other times it can make us feel overwhelmed and unable to cope. If you’re having trouble managing your stress, it may be time to seek help.
Burnout
Burnout can happen to us when we experience a prolonged and ongoing period of stress. It manifests as complete emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion.
Burnout can leave us feeling irritable and on-edge. We may feel a range of symptoms, such as:
- Detached and apathetic
- Ineffective and unable to meet demands
- Emotionally and physically drained
- Forgetful and/or unable to focus or concentrate on tasks
- Making unusual mistakes at work or at home
- Depressed and unable to get out of bed
- Tired all the time
- Loss of motivation or withdrawal from responsibilities
- Feelings of helplessness or hopelessness
- Taking out frustrations on others or aggressive behaviour
- Decreased life satisfaction
When we suffer from burnout, nothing feels fun anymore – things that once brought us joy no longer do. Burnout is the body’s way of telling you you’ve pushed it too far and that it’s time for a change. One of our trained therapists will work together with you to identify the cause(s) and compassionately help you implement productive coping techniques to help you move past your burnout and help you to feel joy in your life again.