Do you ever feel like you can’t slow down no matter how hard you try, or, on the other hand, like you’ve lost all motivation? When stress builds up over time, many people swing between extremes: pushing themselves to keep up with everything until they “crash,” or withdrawing and feeling unable to cope at all. This cycle of over-functioning and under-functioning is exhausting and difficult to break on your own.

At Belonging Counseling in Arlington, Virginia, we understand how stress, anxiety, and burnout often overlap. Sometimes challenges are tied to an anxiety disorder, other times they’re rooted in chronic stress or major life transitions. For many, it’s a mix of all three. Therapy for stress and burnout provides the tools and support needed to step out of these draining patterns and create lasting balance.

The Difference Between Over-Functioning & Under-Functioning

Stress doesn’t look the same for everyone. For instance, over-functioning often means taking on everything yourself, pushing harder, and trying to manage stress through control. While this can look productive, it often leads to resentment, exhaustion, and eventual burnout. 

Meanwhile, under-functioning can look like procrastination, avoidance, or freezing under pressure. As responsibilities pile up, the feelings of overwhelm only intensify. In today’s culture, over-functioning is often praised as dedication or “hustle.” But when rest and balance are missing, it takes a serious toll on mental and physical health.

How Stress, Anxiety, and Life Transitions Intersect

Many people ask themselves: Am I anxious, burned out, or just stressed? The truth is, these experiences often overlap. Chronic stress from work, caregiving, or long-term responsibilities can heighten anxiety and erode resilience. Acute stressors or life transitions, like a move, job change, or relationship shift, can intensify symptoms of both stress and anxiety. Burnout develops when stress goes unaddressed for too long, leaving you feeling depleted, detached, and unmotivated.

Whether you’re facing ongoing responsibilities or sudden life changes, therapy for stress and burnout helps you untangle the source of your stress and anxiety and create a personalized path forward.

How Stress and Burnout Affect Daily Life

Stress is a normal part of life. But when it becomes chronic, it begins to affect every aspect of well-being. Persistent stress is linked to:

· Fatigue and sleep problems

· Headaches and muscle tension

· Irritability and low patience

· Anxiety and racing thoughts

· Trouble focusing or feeling “blank”

· Loss of motivation and energy

Left unchecked, these symptoms can grow into burnout, a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion. Burnout often shows up as cynicism, detachment, or feeling like you’ve lost your sense of purpose. Over time, stress and burnout can disrupt relationships, lower career satisfaction, and diminish overall quality of life.

How Therapy for Can Help With Stress & Burnout

Therapy is a supportive, judgment-free space where you can pause, reflect, and begin to heal. At Belonging Counseling in Arlington, we offer stress and burnout therapists to help you:

· Recognize patterns of over-functioning and avoidance that keep you stuck

· Develop sustainable strategies for managing stress and anxiety

· Explore how cultural and personal expectations influence your well-being

· Build healthier boundaries and give yourself permission to rest

· Reconnect with your values and passions to restore motivation and joy

In the process, we use an integrative approach, blending evidence-based methods such as CBT, mindfulness, and somatic techniques with a compassionate, person-centered focus. The goal isn’t just to help you “get through” stress, but to build resilience, restore balance, and create lasting change.

Find Relief From Stress, Anxiety, and Burnout Today

If you’re feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, or stuck in cycles of overwork and avoidance, turn to Belonging Counseling. We offer stress and burnout therapy in Arlington, VA, to help you navigate the challenges and transitions of life with clarity and confidence. Contact our licensed and experienced today to schedule an appointment.