Signs of Burnout vs. Stress: How to Tell Your Nervous System Needs a Reset

Stress is the body’s response to challenging situations. It can be a positive motivating force when it’s short-lived and quickly overcome. But when you’re in a constant “fight or flight” state for long periods, stress can wreak havoc on your body’s system and make you feel burnt out. 

How do you tell the difference between signs of burnout and stress? In our commitment to help you discover safe, natural approaches to better sleep, calm, and focus, we take a deeper dive into factors that affect overall wellness.

In this blog, we focus on stress and burnout, how they affect the nervous system, and what you can do to manage them naturally.

Key Takeaways

• Stress and burnout are not the same thing. Stress is when you have too much on your plate, and burnout is when you have nothing more to give. 
• Prolonged stress turns into chronic stress, and untreated chronic stress symptoms can develop into burnout. These mental and physical forms of exhaustion can lead to long-term health risks.
• Because chronic stress and burnout evolve slowly over time, you can manage their negative effects with natural stress relief techniques that include meditation, sleep hygiene, and innovative tools like biofrequency patches.

Stress vs. Burnout: Comparing Symptoms

Are you burnt out or are you stressed out?  It’s important to tell the difference between the two because each one requires different approaches. One calls for deeper recovery and systemic or larger changes, whereas the other needs better coping strategies.

Stress and burnout often seem similar. Both are borne out of life’s excessive demands. Both sometimes manifest the same physical symptoms: fatigue, interrupted sleep, and changes in appetite. But they’re different when it comes to intensity and duration.

Burnout is more internally focused and the result of a prolonged period of stress. It is the culmination of chronic stress that has not been managed. Stress, on the other hand, is the body’s natural response to a situation that builds pressure. Once that situation is addressed, symptoms can decrease. 

Here are some of the key differences between signs of burnout and stress.

Stress is when you have too much on your plate, and burnout is when you have nothing more to give. 

When you experience stress all the time and have no resources to manage it, it can turn into chronic stress.

What Are Chronic Stress Symptoms?

When your system is always in a “fight or flight” state, it disrupts your body’s processes. It’s the result of long-term exposure to stress hormones like cortisol, putting your health at risk. 

People who experience chronic stress are at risk for heart disease, diabetes, and substance use disorder. Recognizing symptoms can help you take steps to protect your health before serious problems develop.

Chronic stress symptoms include:

• Headaches
• Muscle tension
• Anxiety
• Digestive problems
• Sleep problems
• Weight gain

When you have no resources to manage chronic stress, it can develop into burnout.

What Are Early Warning Signs of Burnout?

Although the World Health Organization describes “burnout” as a “result of chronic workplace stress that has not been managed successfully,” this form of exhaustion is not just about the pressures of work. Studies suggest that a broad range of factors and everyday pressures in life also cause burnout. 

What are the early warning signs of burnout?

1. You’re always exhausted.
2. You’re always sick.
3. You experience more headaches and muscle pain.
4. You feel as though nothing you do makes a difference.
5. You feel detached and isolate yourself from others.
6. You think caring about work or life is a waste of time and energy.
7. You have trouble sleeping or don’t sleep at all.
8. You skip work, arrive late, or leave the office early.
9. Every day feels like a bad day.
10. You feel helpless and trapped.

Whether it’s stress or burnout, the physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion affects nervous system regulation. Why the nervous system?

What Is Nervous System Dysregulation?

The autonomic nervous system is responsible for managing the body’s response to internal and external stressors. Two branches make up this system:

• The sympathetic nervous system activates the “fight or flight” response, igniting the body to act.
• The parasympathetic nervous system calms the body, supporting the “rest and digest” process.

Both work in harmony, bringing balance to your body. When you’re constantly bombarded with stressors, either the sympathetic system works on overdrive (i.e., you’re constantly on high alert) or the parasympathetic system takes over (i.e., you shut down and disconnect). The dominance of one system over another creates an imbalance called nervous system dysregulation.

You can restore balance with nervous system regulation practices.

Natural Stress Relief Tools to Restore Balance

Burnout happens over time, unlike stress, which can occur suddenly. Because it’s a gradual process, you can reclaim the balance with a few simple, natural stress relief tools.

Meditation

Meditation is a simple mindfulness practice that reduces stress and anxiety. With consistent practice, it can improve mood, enhance cognitive skills, and promote better sleep.  Find a quiet space. Sit and relax. Focus on your breathing, inhaling and exhaling naturally. You can close your eyes or focus on an object. Meditate quickly for five to 10 minutes every day, and you’ll start to notice changes in your mental and emotional health over time.

Breathing Exercises

Deep breathing exercises have shown beneficial effects on cardiovascular health and stress reduction. It’s also proven effective in controlling anxiety, particularly during a panic attack. Like meditation, it’s simple and can be done anywhere without any equipment. Deep breathing exercises cover several techniques, including diaphragmatic breathing, abdominal breathing, and yogic breathing or Pranayama.

Nature

When you connect with nature, all sorts of wonderful things happen to your mental and physical health. Research has shown that nature’s calming influence can alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression. Activities like forest bathing can lower cortisol levels and reduce sympathetic nerve activity. Simply immerse yourself in nature mindfully, walking slowly and observing the surroundings. Be still and use your senses to take in the sights and sounds. Forest bathing offers beneficial effects with at least two hours a week of practice.

Sleep

Poor sleep quality and lack of sleep have been linked to physical and mental health problems, including burnout and depression. Sleep hygiene practices can prevent these issues. For optimal results, practice a strict sleep schedule, follow a routine (e.g., dim the lights, put away the digital devices), and set up your bedroom for better sleep.

Bioresonance

Bioresonance is a complementary therapy for a variety of conditions, including smoking cessation, allergies, and overtraining syndrome. It has also been used for mild to moderate depression. It uses energy frequencies detected in the body to improve conditions.

Bioresonance technology has improved so much over the years that you can use wellness patches or bio-frequency patches to manage certain conditions. Instead of machines with electrodes attached to the body, these natural patches allow you to go about your day, supporting wellness goals. 

You can use sleep patches to help you rest better. You can also use a natural stress relief patch to experience calm and restore balance.

Address Signs of Burnout or Stress, and Recover Naturally

Whether you’re observing signs of burnout or stress, early intervention protects your physical and mental health. It also supports a faster return to balance and well-being.  Practice the stress relief tools we suggested here today, and begin your recovery naturally.