Burnout

[SilverGlitterBaubles]

How do you recognise what is actually burnout v stress and exhaustion from work or are they one and the same? I have been feeling overwhelmed, stressed and not sleeping well for months now and I’m constantly thinking about work. I was putting a lot of blame on menopause but I am on HRT and do not feel like I am suffering as I am ok when on holidays when I manage to wind down a little. I am a bit reluctant to hold to the flag up to my employer as I already feel like a failure for not coping. Any experience or advice would be appreciated. TIA

Why is it important to label?

You feel shit

I agree I do but it’s how I relate the situation to my workplace.

Use whatever “label” you think will be listened to most seriously by your work

What do you need from your employer? What do you intend to ask them for? That's of greater relevance.

having experienced both- stress is more along the lines of if the trigger is removed it will go away, burnout is a more permanent general state that isn’t necessarily related to a particular trigger that can be removed.

so for me - a terrible bully of a manager caused stress, I left and that resolved the stress. My new job, which I love, does not cause me stress but did cause me a bit of burnout in the summer as I pushed myself past my limits. Got over it tho, am managing my time better and still loving my job.

I would say the difference is whether you feel better when removed from the situation.

Stress caused by work will improve, as you say it has, when you have that distance from the stressor and get a chance to unwind.

Burnout is a real chronic state of mental, emotional and physical exhaustion that some annual leave just doesn’t fix and it’s more than just being unhappy at or with work, it impacts almost every area of your life.

This could be me!
we have new procedures at work that 30 year old me wouldn’t even blink at but 50 something year old me is so struggling with, getting emotional & stressed.
i have decided it’s menopause, bought some new vitamins, a ton of hot chocolate & new fluffy socks & taking time to relax when I get home from work. It’s working some.

don’t overanalyse it.
do something little for you each day.