Stress & Burnout
When stress stops being something you push through, and starts running your life
Ask yourself:
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Are you tired even after a weekend off?
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Do you dread Monday before Saturday is over?
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Are you snapping at people you care about, then feeling guilty?
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Does your body keep sending signals, like headaches, tight shoulders, an upset stomach or getting sick all the time?
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Do the things you used to care about now feel like just another demand?
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Can't remember the last time you felt like yourself?
If you nodded along to a few of these, it may be more than ordinary stress.
Stress or burnout?
Some stress is normal, and in short bursts it can even help you focus and get things done. Stress is meant to switch on, then switch off again so you can recover. When it stays switched on for weeks or months, it becomes chronic stress. Over time, chronic stress can take a real toll on your health. It's linked to high blood pressure, heart problems, a weaker immune system, digestive issues, poor sleep, anxiety and depression.
Burnout is what happens when it doesn't switch off. When the pressure goes on for too long without enough rest or support, you stop recovering. You end up exhausted in a way sleep doesn't fix, detached from things that used to matter, and doubting whether you're any good at what you do.
Burnout doesn't only come from work. It can come from a demanding job, parenting, caring for an ageing parent or someone who's unwell, study, financial pressure, or several of these at once. It isn't a weakness. It's a sign you've been carrying too much, for too long, without enough support.
If that sounds like you, it's time to unburden.
Psychology & more
How Unburden can help
Stress and burnout are not only in your head. They show up in your sleep, your gut, your immune system and your energy, which is why at Unburden we've designed a 'Psychology & More' approach that looks at body and mind together.
There's no one right place to start. Some people need relief quickly, others want to get straight to the root of what's going on, and many people find a mix of both works best.
Quick relief when you need it
When you're running on empty, it can be hard to even think about the bigger picture. Some of our services work quickly to calm your nervous system and take the edge off, giving you enough breathing room to start tackling what's underneath.
Acupuncture is a quick way to give your nervous system a reset. Many people notice a difference straight away, and it can also ease the tension, headaches and aches that often come with stress.
Breathwork sessions teach you slow, structured breathing, one of the quickest ways to switch off the stress response. It's a skill you can take anywhere and use whenever you need it.
Our stand-alone stress reduction and mindfulness workshops are a low-pressure place to start, and a great one to bring a friend who needs it too.
Getting to the root cause
Quick relief helps, but if nothing changes underneath, the stress tends to build up again. These approaches take a little longer, and they're where lasting change happens.
With one of our psychologists or counsellors, you'll look at what's driving the stress, whether that's workload, boundaries, perfectionism or never feeling able to say no, and build practical ways to recover and protect your energy. Our psychotherapists are highly qualified and able to select from a range of therapies to find the one that works best for you. If necessary, this may involve looking at why you've been carrying so much for so long. We aim to make your therapy both a practical and insightful experience, so you don't just get back to where you were, you stop ending up here again.
Long-term stress takes a toll on your hormones, sleep, energy and digestion. Our clinical naturopath looks at the whole picture, using testing where it's useful, and builds a plan to help your body recover.
When you're stressed, eating well is often the first thing to go, and your gut usually feels it. Our gut-health dietitian helps you make realistic changes that support your energy, mood and digestion, without adding one more thing to feel guilty about.
Our group programs also give you the chance to build skills alongside others who understand what it's like.
Finding the right mix for you
You're welcome to put together your own holistic program of Unburden services, or speak to the Client Experience Officers or your therapist about what might work best for you.
If you'd like more information for some self-help therapy, we invite you to read through our library of blogs, or consider books our team has recommended.
Read at your own pace
Interesting information on stress and burnout from our library
Books we recommend
Written by an Australian doctor and ACT trainer, for the times when life gets hard and the gap between what you want and what you've got feels huge. Practical, compassionate and easy to read.
The Reality Slap
by Dr Russ Harris
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When the stress is coming from the people around you at work, this book explains how toxic behaviour takes hold in workplaces, why it's allowed to continue, and what can be done about it.
Toxic Workplace!
by Dr Mitchell Kusy and Dr Elizabeth Holloway
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The book behind Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). It's long, so it's one to dip into rather than read cover to cover, but it's a foundation text for using mindfulness to manage stress.
Full Catastrophe Living by Dr Jon Kabat-Zinn
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A reassuring read for anyone who feels guilty slowing down. Makes the case that rest isn't a reward for finishing your work, it's part of doing it well.
Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang
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Ready when you are
You don't have to wait until you hit a wall. Request an appointment at our Graceville or Rocklea clinics. If you're not sure where to start, give us a call. Our Client Experience Officers are more than simply receptionists, they are specially trained to help work out the best starting point for you, whether that's choosing a therapist, or considering a few of our services. If even making a phone call feels like one more thing on your list, request a call back and we'll come to you.
We'd love to help you unburden.
Contact
Find us in Graceville: Level 1, 296 Oxley Road, Graceville, QLD 4075
Find us in Rocklea: Level 1, Building G, 385 Sherwood Road, Rocklea, QLD 4106
(07) 3137 1553
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