Burnout and Stress

Good grades, a full calendar, and a steady smile do not rule out anxiety, depression, or burnout. Here is what stress can actually look like, and how to start a conversation. A student can look like they are keeping up and still feel like they are barely holding on. Classes, work, money, relationships, family pressure, identity, health, and the future can all pile up at once.

Burnout can look like a person who is still showing up, still answering messages, still taking care of everyone else, and quietly feeling like they are running on fumes. It is common, especially among people who carry a lot of responsibility. Parents, caregivers, students, clinicians, shift workers, first responders, leaders, and high achievers can all experience it. Many people do not recognize it at first because they are not “falling apart.”