Condition guide
Stress & Burnout
When the demand has outlasted your capacity to recover
Overview
Burnout is what happens when chronic demand outpaces recovery for long enough that exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced effectiveness become the baseline.
It is not the same as depression, though the two frequently overlap and burnout often precedes a depressive episode. Distinguishing them matters, because the treatment plans differ.
Common symptoms
- Exhaustion that sleep doesn't fix
- Cynicism or detachment from work you once cared about
- Reduced sense of accomplishment or competence
- Irritability with colleagues, patients, or family
- Trouble concentrating and increased mistakes
- Physical symptoms: headaches, GI upset, frequent illness
- Dreading the start of each day
Causes and risk factors
- Sustained workload without adequate recovery time
- Low autonomy or control over how work gets done
- Values conflict between what's asked and what you believe
- Caregiving demands at home stacked on top of work
- Shift work and disrupted circadian rhythm
- Perfectionism and difficulty setting limits
Treatment options we offer
- Therapy focused on recovery, boundaries, and values
- Screening to distinguish burnout from major depression
- Sleep and circadian rhythm intervention
- Practical workload and role restructuring conversations
- TMS if a depressive episode has developed and resisted medication
Therapy approaches used
- CBT for stress and perfectionism
- Behavioral activation and recovery scheduling
- Values and boundary work
- Couples sessions when burnout is straining the relationship
How TMS fits in
TMS is not a burnout treatment. If burnout has progressed into major depression that hasn't responded to medication, TMS becomes a legitimate option — we screen carefully to tell the two apart.
Learn more about TMS therapyFrequently asked questions
Services that treat Stress & Burnout
Start with one conversation
Tell us what you've tried. We'll confirm eligibility, verify your benefits, and map out what treatment would look like.