Burned Out, Not Just Broken: How Therapy Helps You Rise Gently

Lately, it feels like everyone’s running on empty — trying to hold it all together while quietly falling apart. Maybe you’ve been the one smiling through exhaustion, pushing through another day while wondering when it’ll finally feel easier. You’re not weak for feeling this way. You’re just human — and probably carrying far more than anyone realizes.

You’re Not Lazy. You’re Not Failing. You’re Burned Out.

There’s a quiet kind of exhaustion that creeps in when you’ve been carrying too much for too long.
It doesn’t announce itself with fanfare — it just slowly steals your energy, your spark, and the parts of you that used to feel alive.

I know because I spent years living in that space — holding it all together on the outside while slowly running out of steam inside. Here in East Cobb, I see so many women doing the same thing — taking care of everyone else while quietly losing sight of what they need to feel whole.

Burnout isn’t the end of your story. It’s the sign you need a new chapter.

Maybe you’ve caught yourself thinking, “What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I just get it together?” Spoiler: there’s nothing “wrong” with you. You’re not broken — you’re burned out. And that difference matters more than you think.

The Myth of Being “Broken”

Somewhere along the line, women started believing that if we can’t juggle everything — the kids, the job, the meals, the emotional labor, the invisible load — we must be failing. But burnout isn’t a personal flaw. It’s a signal.

A signal that your mind, body, and heart have been in overdrive for too long.
That your system is asking — begging — for rest, compassion, and recalibration.

Therapy doesn’t “fix” you because you’re not broken. It helps you slow down, breathe, and reconnect with the parts of yourself that got buried under everyone else’s needs.

What Burnout Really Looks Like (and Why It’s Not Your Fault)

Burnout isn’t always dramatic. Sometimes it’s subtle —

• Snapping at your kids when you don’t mean to.

• Crying in the car and then pretending you’re fine five minutes later.

• Feeling too tired to enjoy things that used to fill you up.

• Wanting to rest but not knowing how to stop without feeling guilty.

Sound familiar? You’re not alone.
Burnout is a survival response — your body and brain’s way of saying, “We can’t keep going like this.”

How Therapy Helps You Rise Gently Again

In therapy, we create space for your nervous system to exhale.
We explore the layers of your exhaustion with compassion, not judgment — and rebuild your capacity from the inside out.

You’ll learn to:

• Recognize your burnout patterns (before you crash).

• Set boundaries without guilt.

• Practice simple grounding tools to calm your mind and body.

• Reconnect with what actually feels nourishing — not just “productive.”

You can’t pour from an empty cup — but you can learn how to refill it.

Therapy isn’t about adding another thing to your to-do list.
It’s about remembering that you are allowed to be cared for, too.

Start Small: Your Gentle Reset Toolkit

If you saw yourself in these words, take a breath — and take something with you.
I created a free resource to help you start refilling your cup: The Gentle Reset Toolkit.

It’s a small collection of grounding practices and gentle reminders — simple, doable steps for the days when you don’t feel like yourself.

You’ll find

• A quick grounding practice you can do anywhere

• A self-compassion reflection

• A gentle mindset reframe to remind you that rest isn’t a reward — it’s essential

Download your free Gentle Reset Toolkit here.

You’re Allowed to Rise Gently

If you’re ready to start feeling like you again — therapy can help you find your way back.

Whether you’re a mom running on fumes, a caregiver constantly “on,” or just someone trying to hold it all together, you deserve support.

💬 Feeling ready to take the next step? Schedule your free consultation and start your gentle rise today.

Am I Burned Out or Just Tired? How to Tell the Difference

You keep asking yourself, “Am I burned out or just tired?” The lines blur when every day feels like a marathon of responsibilities. Fatigue is normal after a long week, but burnout is when the tired never fully goes away — even after rest. Learning to tell the difference matters, because what helps one won’t fix the other.

If you’re a mom — especially a special needs mom — juggling work, home, and caregiving, exhaustion probably feels like your baseline. But knowing whether you’re simply tired or truly burned out can be the key to finding relief. I know this because I spent a long time thinking I was just a tired mom with a special needs child and aging parents.

What It Means to Be “Just Tired”

Everyone gets tired. It’s your body’s way of saying, “You need to slow down.” Tiredness is usually tied to effort — maybe you stayed up too late, had a long workday, or dealt with too many errands in one stretch. The good news? Rest usually helps.

Signs you might be tired, not burned out:

• Your body feels heavy, but after a solid night’s sleep or a restful weekend, you bounce back.

• You can still enjoy things, even if you’re yawning through them.

• Your motivation is intact — you want to do the things, you’re just low on fuel.

If this sounds like you, the fix might be as simple as giving yourself permission to rest. (Easier said than done, I know.) You can check out my post on Back-to-School Chaos for some ideas on how to reset your schedule and make room for downtime.

Signs of Burnout

Burnout is different. It goes beyond tired muscles or late nights. It’s a whole-body, whole-mind depletion that doesn’t get better with a nap.

Signs you might be burned out:

• You dread starting your day, even if you slept.

• Tasks you used to handle easily now feel overwhelming.

• You feel detached or numb — like you’re on autopilot.

• Rest doesn’t fix the exhaustion.

• You’re more cynical, snappy, or hopeless than usual.

Burnout isn’t about laziness or weakness — it’s a survival response to being stretched too thin for too long. If this resonates, you’re not alone. I talk more about this in my post Burned Out, Not Just Broken, which reminds us that burnout doesn’t mean we’re broken — just human.

For more on how professionals describe burnout, the Mayo Clinic has a helpful guide.

Why the Difference Matters

Being tired and being burned out might feel similar, but they call for different solutions.

• Tiredness can often be solved with more sleep, hydration, or a quiet weekend. Your body just needs a reset.

• Burnout requires more than rest — it’s about boundaries, support, and real recovery. Think of it like this: if tiredness is a flat phone battery, burnout is a worn-out charger.

For me, ignoring the signs of burnout had real consequences. Within just two months, I was diagnosed with both an autoimmune disease and breast cancer. I can’t say burnout caused them — but I do know that years of running on empty left my body vulnerable. That was a turning point for me: realizing that exhaustion isn’t just something to push through, it’s a warning light you can’t afford to ignore.

What You Can Do Right Now

If you’re reading this and wondering which category you fall into, start here:

1. Check in with your body and emotions. Ask yourself: Does rest help me feel better? Or do I stay drained no matter what?

2. Prioritize true rest. Sleep matters, yes, but so does real downtime — time away from responsibilities, not just scrolling on your phone.

3. Talk to someone you trust. Even a short vent with a friend can help you feel less alone.

4. Take one thing off your plate. Burnout thrives when everything feels urgent. Lower the bar where you can.

And most importantly: remind yourself you don’t have to fix this alone.

A Gentle Next Step

I learned the hard way that ignoring burnout can take a toll on your health, relationships, and sense of self. You don’t have to wait until you hit rock bottom to ask for help.

Therapy can give you a safe place to untangle what’s draining you, rebuild your sense of balance, and create strategies to keep burnout from taking over.

I offer a free 15-minute consultation where we can talk about where you are right now and what kind of support might help. You don’t have to have all the answers — just showing up is enough.

👉 Book your free 15 minute consultation call here.

Caregiver Burnout is Real — Here’s How Counseling Can Help

Caring for someone you love can be one of the most meaningful roles in life. But let’s be honest — it can also be exhausting, overwhelming, and lonely. When the weight of caregiving piles up, many people experience something called caregiver burnout: a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that makes it hard to keep going.

If you’ve ever wondered why you feel so drained or why you’ve lost your sense of self while caring for others, you’re not alone. In this post, we’ll talk about what caregiver burnout looks like, why it happens, and how caregiver burnout counseling in Marietta can help you find balance again.

What Is Caregiver Burnout?

Caregiver burnout isn’t about being weak or “not cut out” for the job. It’s what happens when the demands of caregiving outweigh your capacity to rest, recharge, and receive support.

This can affect parents caring for neurodiverse children, adult children supporting aging parents, spouses caring for a sick partner, or even professionals in helping roles. Anyone who spends their days giving more than they receive is at risk.

Signs You Might Be Experiencing Burnout

Some of the most common signs of caregiver burnout include:

• Feeling physically exhausted no matter how much sleep you get.

• Becoming irritable, easily frustrated, or emotionally numb.

• Struggling to concentrate, make decisions, or remember things.

• Neglecting your own health, like skipping checkups or eating poorly.

• Feeling hopeless, stuck, or resentful of the situation.

These aren’t personal failings — they’re signals from your body and mind that you need care, too.

Why Caregiver Burnout Happens

Caregiving is often a marathon without a finish line. A few reasons burnout shows up:

• The constant emotional weight of responsibility.

• Feeling isolated or unsupported in your role.

• Financial stress or decision fatigue from managing care.

• Cultural or family messages like “I should be able to handle this.”

• Never having time for your own needs, rest, or hobbies.

When you’re always putting yourself last, burnout is almost inevitable.

How Counseling Helps

Therapy gives you a space to exhale and say what you can’t always say out loud. With caregiver burnout counseling in Marietta — and virtual sessions available across Georgia — you can:

• Share honestly without guilt or judgment.

• Learn practical tools to manage stress and set boundaries.

• Build communication strategies that reduce conflict with family members.

• Build communication strategies that reduce conflict with family members.

Counseling doesn’t erase your responsibilities, but it makes them feel lighter and more manageable.

What Support Looks Like at Rise Gently Therapy

At Rise Gently Therapy, I provide a warm, validating space where you don’t have to pretend you’re “fine.” My approach combines mindfulness, CBT, and psychoeducation, but most importantly, it centers you.

I offer both in-person sessions here in Marietta and online counseling for anyone in Georgia. Sliding scale options are available, because I believe support should be accessible.

If you’re ready to care for yourself while caring for others, I’d love to walk alongside you.

Learn more about caregiver burnout counseling in Marietta or book a free consultation today.

Conclusion

Burnout doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re human. And it means you deserve support.

You don’t have to carry this alone. Rise Gently Therapy offers burnout counseling in person in Marietta, GA, or online for clients throughout Georgia.

✨ Ready to take the next step? Book a free consultation today and begin the process of finding balance and peace again.

When the Bell Rings for You Too: Back-to-School Transitions Moms Aren’t Talking About

It’s August, and the lunchboxes are lined up, school forms are flying, and the group chats are lit with carpool chaos and supply scavenger hunts. But while everyone’s talking about how the kids are adjusting… no one’s really asking how you’re doing.

The Quiet Struggle

Maybe you’re juggling a full workload while pretending your house isn't imploding around you.

Maybe you’re watching your child head to middle school, high school, or even college—and feeling that invisible punch to the chest no one warned you about.

Maybe you’re coordinating IEP meetings, doctor appointments, or therapy schedules, and wondering how many tabs your brain can realistically keep open.

The Emotional Load of August

This time of year is hard for a lot of moms—not just logistically, but emotionally. It can stir up anxiety, grief, identity questions, and a very real sense of burnout. And unlike summer, there’s no socially acceptable way to just… melt down in front of the ice cream truck.

Even if the school routine brings some relief, it can also come with a side of guilt. You're supposed to feel grateful, right? Grateful for the break. Grateful for your job. Grateful your kid is healthy enough to go. And you are. But you’re also exhausted, overwhelmed, and maybe just a little bit lost in the shuffle.

You’re Not Broken. You’re Human.

As a therapist, I work with moms navigating this exact season of life. The emotional whiplash. The invisible labor. The quiet ache of being needed less… and yet somehow responsible for more. You’re not broken for feeling this way. You’re human. And you deserve support, too.

Therapy as a Different Kind of Back-to-School Supply

So if August has you running on caffeine and autopilot, maybe this is the moment to do something different.

• To make space for yourself.

• To feel your feelings without apologizing for them.

• To rise gently, instead of running ragged.

If that sounds like what you need this season, I’m here. Therapy isn’t just for when things fall apart—it’s also for when you want to hold yourself together differently.

Feeling burned out by back-to-school season? Let’s talk. Schedule a free consult.

Follow me on Instagram @risegentlytherapy for more support.

Burned Out, Not Just Broken: How Therapy Helps You Rise Gently in Marietta, Georgia

Are you caring for everyone else and running on empty?

You're not alone. So many women I work with come into therapy saying things like, "I just don’t feel like myself anymorslie," or, "I thought I was stronger than this." They’re not falling apart in a dramatic way—they're still making lunches, getting to work, managing appointments—but something is cracking inside. They wonder if they're broken.

But what they’re actually experiencing is burnout.

Burnout isn't about weakness or failure. It happens when strong, capable, deeply caring people carry too much for too long without enough rest, support, or recognition. And therapy can help you find your way back. Not by pushing harder, but by learning to rise gently.

What Burnout Actually Looks Like

Physical Symptoms of Burnout in Women

Burnout isn't just "in your head." It shows up in your body:

• Exhaustion that sleep doesn't fix

• Headaches, brain fog, or digestive issues

• Sleep disturbances

• Autoimmune flares or other chronic conditions

For me, burnout played a part in the timing of my breast cancer diagnosis and the worsening of an autoimmune disorder. The toll was real, and my body had been trying to warn me for years.

Emotional Symptoms of Burnout and Anxiety

Emotionally, burnout can feel like:

• Numbness or detachment from things you once loved

• Irritability, overwhelm, and emotional reactivity

• Feeling like you’re failing no matter how hard you try

It can be hard to tell where burnout ends and deeper despair begins. A helpful distinction is this:

• "I can't do this anymore" = burnout

• "I'm a failure" or "I'm broken" = burnout layered with shame, trauma, or grief

When Burnout Isn’t the Whole Story

Burnout doesn’t usually show up alone. It often links arms with:

• A history of trauma, betrayal, or emotional neglect

• Beliefs that you have to earn your worth by over-functioning

• Difficulty receiving care or asking for help

Burnout isn’t a character flaw. It’s often a symptom of trying to meet impossible expectations without enough support.

Why Traditional Self-Care Advice Falls Short

You can’t fix burnout with a bubble bath.

Mainstream self-care advice often feels like a slap in the face to someone who’s burned out. Why?

• It doesn’t address the root causes (over-responsibility, perfectionism, emotional labor)

• It implies you just need to do more to feel better

• It makes you feel guilty for not enjoying the things that are supposed to help

When you're fried, even deciding what to eat can feel impossible. You don't need more tasks—you need restoration.

How Therapy Helps: It’s Not What You Think

Dismantling Common Misconceptions

Therapy isn't only for people with "big" trauma or crisis. It’s for anyone who wants to:

• Feel like themselves again

• Learn to say no without guilt

• Reconnect with purpose and self-respect

You don’t need a diagnosis to ask for help. And you don’t need to spend years analyzing your childhood (though we might talk about it if it helps).

Seeking therapy is an act of responsible caregiving—not weakness. And if affordability is a concern, many therapists (myself included), I offer affordable options, including sliding scale rates, because therapy should feel possible, not out of reach.

What Actually Happens in Therapy for Burnout

Together, we might:

• Learn to listen to your nervous system and build emotional safety

• Reframe self-care as essential maintenance, not a luxury

• Examine the beliefs and roles you've inherited about motherhood, caregiving, and identity

• Make space to grieve the parts of yourself you lost while caring for everyone else

• Practice speaking to yourself with curiosity and kindness instead of shame

  If this sounds familiar, you don’t have to keep pushing through. Book a free consultation today.

Rising Gently: What Recovery Looks Like

Micro-Steps, Not Major Overhauls

Burnout recovery isn’t about transforming overnight. It's about:

• Starting the day with intention instead of dread

• Allowing yourself to rest without apology or guilt

• Choosing one thing to do, not all the things

Learning a New Internal Dialogue

We practice saying:

• "Is that true, or is that burnout talking?"

• "Would I say this to someone I love?"

• "I’m allowed to have needs. I’m allowed to change."

Practical Micro-Practices

Healing begins with small moments of care:

• Drinking water when you refill your child’s cup

• Pausing to breathe before answering a text

• Putting your own name on the to-do list

Each one is a vote for your own worth.

The Path Forward Isn’t Linear

Burnout recovery isn’t a checklist. There will be progress, setbacks, plateaus, and surprises. The most important thing is to keep showing up for yourself, with support.

In therapy, we build the tools and space to help you do just that.

If This Sounds Like You…

You're not alone.
You're not lazy.
You're not broken.

You may be burned out.

Therapy can help you rise again—not by force, but gently.

If you're ready to take a small, brave step, I offer a free 15-minute consultation to see if we're a good fit. You can reach me at elizabeth@risegentlytherapy.com or click the button below to directly book your free consultation.

Healing isn’t about becoming someone new. It’s about remembering who you were before the world told you to forget yourself.

Let’s walk that path together.