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What Does Emotional Burnout Feel Like—And How Can Therapy Help?

  • Writer: jennifer olson-madden
    jennifer olson-madden
  • Oct 5
  • 5 min read

If you’ve been feeling emotionally drained, detached from the things you used to enjoy, or overwhelmed, no matter how much you try to push through, what you may be experiencing is emotional burnout. While burnout is often thought of as a workplace issue, research shows it can affect every area of life: work, relationships, caregiving, and even your sense of self.


In my online practice in Denver, CO, I work with high-achieving professionals and caregivers who struggle with burnout, anxiety, and chronic stress. Emotional burnout is not just “being tired.” It’s a complex psychological and physiological state that requires attention, care, and often professional support through burnout therapy.


In this article, we’ll answer the most common questions:

  1. What is emotional burnout?

  2. What causes it?

  3. What does it feel like?

  4. How does it impact daily life?

  5. When is it time to seek therapy—and how can therapy help?


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What Is Emotional Burnout?


The World Health Organization (WHO) describes “burnout” as a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. However, researchers, including Christina Maslach—who developed the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI)—emphasize that burnout extends beyond work.


Emotional burnout refers to the exhaustion of your emotional and psychological resources. It’s the “running on empty” feeling when you’ve given so much of yourself to work, family, or responsibilities that little is left to draw upon. Unlike simple fatigue, it doesn’t resolve with a good night’s sleep.


What Causes Emotional Burnout?


Burnout is rarely caused by one single factor. Instead, it develops from a combination of systemic pressures and personal vulnerabilities:


  • Chronic Stressors: Long work hours, high caregiving demands, or financial strain create a constant “fight or flight” response.

  • Perfectionism & High Self-Expectations: Research consistently links perfectionism with increased risk of anxiety, depression, and burnout.

  • Lack of Recovery Time: The absence of genuine downtime—weekends consumed by chores, evenings filled with obligations—prevents the nervous system from recalibrating.

  • Role Overload: Juggling too many roles (professional, parent, caregiver, partner) leads to depletion of emotional resources.


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What Does Emotional Burnout Feel Like?


Clients often describe emotional burnout as a slow unraveling. Symptoms may show up in your mind, body, and relationships.


Common emotional and physical signs of burnout include:

  • Persistent exhaustion that rest doesn’t fix

  • Feeling detached, cynical, or emotionally “numb”

  • Difficulty concentrating or making decisions

  • Irritability, impatience, or quick frustration

  • Physical symptoms such as headaches, stomach distress, or insomnia

  • Loss of joy in activities you once enjoyed


For example, one client described it as “smiling on the outside while feeling hollow on the inside.” Another said, “I’m going through the motions, but I don’t recognize myself anymore.”


The Impact of Emotional Burnout


Left untreated, emotional burnout can have far-reaching consequences:

  • Mental health risks: Research links burnout to higher rates of anxiety disorders, depression, and even substance use.

  • Physical health risks: Chronic stress is associated with cardiovascular disease, immune dysfunction, and gastrointestinal problems.

  • Relationship strain: Emotional withdrawal or irritability can create conflict and disconnection with partners, children, or colleagues.

  • Workplace functioning: Reduced creativity, lower productivity, and absenteeism are common outcomes.


Burnout doesn’t just “go away” on its own. Without intervention, it tends to worsen over time.


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How Does Therapy Help Emotional Burnout?


The good news: burnout is treatable. Therapy provides a structured space to understand, process, and heal.


In my clinical work as a burnout therapist in Denver, I integrate Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and mindfulness-based approaches.


Here’s how therapy can support recovery:

  • Clarifying values: Therapy helps you reconnect with what truly matters, so your energy is directed toward meaningful pursuits.

  • Reducing perfectionism: CBT tools target unhelpful thought patterns such as “I should always be doing more.”

  • Practicing defusion & mindfulness: ACT strategies teach you to observe stressful thoughts without being consumed by them.

  • Building sustainable coping strategies: Together, we design recovery rituals—daily practices that restore energy and emotional balance.

  • Strengthening boundaries: Therapy supports you in setting healthy boundaries at work and home to protect your energy.


When to Get Help


  • You feel chronically exhausted, detached, or hopeless

  • Your symptoms persist despite lifestyle changes (sleep, diet, exercise)

  • Stress is interfering with relationships, work performance, or health

  • You recognize patterns of perfectionism, people-pleasing, or over-commitment that keep you stuck


Reaching out is not a sign of weakness—it’s a proactive step toward burnout recovery.


Next Steps—Final Thoughts From a Burnout Therapist in Denver, CO


Emotional burnout is not just “in your head.” It’s a very real, research-supported condition with profound impacts on well-being. With therapy, recovery is possible. Many clients find that therapy doesn’t just help them overcome burnout—it also helps them rebuild resilience, reclaim joy, and re-align with their deepest values.


If you’re in Denver, CO, or seeking therapy for burnout via telehealth, I’d be honored to support you. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to learn how therapy can help you recover from emotional burnout. Here’s how you can get started:


📱Call or text me at 720-588-3823

📝Fill out the contact form on my website


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Start Recovering Today Through Emotional Burnout Therapy in Denver, CO


Emotional burnout can leave you feeling numb, detached, and completely drained—like you’re running on empty no matter how much you rest. The good news is, you don’t have to stay stuck in that cycle. Emotional burnout therapy can help you understand what’s fueling your exhaustion, restore your sense of balance, and reconnect you with meaning and joy in your daily life.


Through my Colorado-based telehealth practice, I help clients untangle emotional fatigue, manage stress and anxiety, and build practical coping tools that lead to long-term recovery. Together, we’ll create space for self-reflection, healing, and sustainable change so you can begin to feel more like yourself again. If you’re ready to take that next step toward renewal, here’s how we can get started:


1️⃣ Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to share what you’ve been experiencing and explore how therapy for emotional burnout can help.


2️⃣ Work with a licensed online psychologist in Denver, CO who understands the emotional and physical toll of burnout and provides compassionate, evidence-based support.


3️⃣ Learn research-backed strategies to regulate stress, reduce overwhelm, and rebuild emotional resilience for a healthier, more fulfilling life.


Other Telehealth Services I Provide Throughout Colorado


Emotional burnout therapy can help you move beyond constant exhaustion, self-doubt, and detachment to rediscover calm, purpose, and connection. By learning how to manage your emotions more effectively, you can restore balance, find clarity, and feel more in control of your life again.


While treating emotional burnout and chronic stress is a major focus of my practice, I also offer a wide range of telehealth services through my online therapy practice in Denver, CO. I provide therapy for anxiety disorders, trauma recovery, and support for those navigating significant life transitions. Many clients also seek my help with relationship challenges, where we work collaboratively to strengthen communication, rebuild trust, and foster healthier emotional dynamics.


Alongside therapy sessions, I offer psychological services and assessments designed to meet your specific needs. You can explore more about my services and therapeutic approach on my website, read mental health resources on my blog, or reach out when you’re ready to start your healing journey. You can also download my free e-book and follow me on X, Instagram, and LinkedIn for ongoing insights and tools to support your mental well-being.


About the Author


Dr. Jennifer Olson-Madden is a licensed psychologist in Denver, CO, specializing in emotional burnout, anxiety, and chronic stress. Through Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and mindfulness-based approaches, she helps clients manage emotional exhaustion, strengthen resilience, and reconnect with what truly matters to them.


With over 20 years of experience treating burnout, trauma, and anxiety, Dr. Olson-Madden integrates evidence-based tools with warmth, compassion, and a deep understanding of the challenges her clients face. She not only teaches strategies for balance and recovery but also lives them—modeling what it means to move from burnout to genuine well-being.

Jennifer Olson-Madden, Ph.D.

Psychologist and Consultant

720-588-3823

TELEPSYCHOLOGY SERVICES ONLY

2000 S. Colorado Blvd,

Suite 2000-1024

Denver, CO 80222 

For questions related to services and rates, please see the Psychological Services page.​

 

Jennifer Olson-Madden, PhD, LLC offers services for all ethnic and minority groups and LGBTQIA+ adults in Denver, CO and 41 other states nationwide.

 

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