Stress, Burnout & Emotional Wellbeing
Why Can't I Just Switch Off Anymore?
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There's a particular kind of exhaustion that comes from always being the one who holds it together.
You're still functioning... meetings, deadlines, responsibilities... but there's a cost.
The mental load feels constant.
Your nervous system won't fully switch off.
You're tired in a way that sleep doesn't fix.
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This isn't about lacking resilience.
It's about a system that's been under pressure for too long.
How Stess & Burnout often show up...
Burnout doesn't always announce itself loudly and functioning isn't the same as feeling ok.
Often, it builds slowly until it feels normal - until you can't remember the last time you felt genuinely calm.
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You might notice:
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Constant exhaustion, no matter how much you sleep
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Feeling irritable, detached, or unable to concentrate
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Physical symptoms: headaches, jaw tension, digestive issues, muscle tightness
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A sense of running on empty — while feeling unable to slow down
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Overthinking every decision, replaying every conversation
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Difficulty enjoying things that used to bring you joy
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Quietly questioning how much longer you can keep going like this
These aren't signs of weakness. They're signs that your nervous system is trying to protect you.
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Why "Just Rest More" Doesn't Work
People often say, "I just need a holiday" or "I need to sleep more."
But when you're burnt out, rest alone doesn't fix it. You might take time off and still feel anxious. You might sleep for hours and wake up tired.
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That's because burnout isn't just physical tiredness. It's emotional depletion, nervous system dysregulation, and often years of unprocessed stress showing up all at once.
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Recovery requires more than time off.
It requires understanding what's driving the stress, changing the patterns that keep you in overdrive, and rebuilding your capacity to rest, regulate, and recover.
How I work with stress and burnout...
Psychotherapy: Healing the Deeper Patterns
Together, we explore what’s actually driving your stress response.
Often, burnout isn’t just about your current job or workload — it’s rooted in deeper patterns:
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Perfectionism and self-criticism.
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People-pleasing and over-responsibility.
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A belief that your worth depends on achievement.
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Old experiences that taught you rest isn’t safe or must be earned.
This work helps you understand why you push so hard — and gives you permission to soften, slow down, and reconnect with yourself.
Coaching: Practical Strategies for Recovery
While therapy addresses the roots, coaching gives you immediate, practical tools:
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Learning to set boundaries without guilt.
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Managing workload and saying no when you need to.
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Building nervous system regulation techniques (breathwork, grounding, self-soothing).
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Creating realistic recovery plans that fit your actual life.
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Prioritising what matters and letting go of what doesn’t.
You don’t have to overhaul your entire life overnight. Small, intentional shifts can create huge change.
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Psychoeducation: Understanding Your Nervous System
One of the most powerful parts of our work is helping you understand what’s actually happening when you feel stressed, anxious, or unable to relax.
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I explain how your nervous system works, why burnout happens, and what you can do to support your own recovery.
This isn’t abstract theory — it’s practical knowledge that empowers you to recognize your signals, self-regulate, and rebuild resilience.
When you understand what’s happening, it stops feeling like you’re broken. It starts feeling manageable.
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What Recovery Can Look Like
You don't need to earn rest. Imagine:
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Waking up without that heavy knot in your chest.
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Being able to switch off at night and actually rest.
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Feeling calmer, more grounded, and trusting yourself again.
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Having energy for the things that matter — not just work.
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Knowing you’re enough, even on days when you don’t achieve everything.
That’s what this work makes possible.
Not overnight — but with the right support, it’s absolutely achievable.
About This Site
This website is written by Cathy Waterhouse, a UK-based psychotherapist and coach specialising in stress, burnout, imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and anxiety in professionals and leaders. With 25 years of corporate experience and dual qualifications in psychotherapy and coaching, Cathy offers online therapy across the UK, combining emotional depth with practical strategies. Based in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, Cathy provides affordable, accessible online support for professionals who appear fine on the outside but feel overwhelmed behind the scenes.