I’m running on empty
Work, Burnout & High Achievers
In crisis? Call or text 988 (press 2 for Spanish), or text HOME to 741741. If you’re in immediate danger, call 911.
You keep going because you have to. Work, kids, parents, bills. Everyone counts on you.
But you’re tired in a way sleep doesn’t fix. Things you used to care about feel heavy, or pointless.
Burnout isn’t weakness. It’s what happens when you give more than you get back for too long, often with no one noticing what you carry.
This part of the guide covers work burnout, the invisible load at home, and what to do when therapy helped you understand things but nothing changed.
Is this you?
- You’re exhausted even after a day off.
- You feel cynical or numb about work you used to care about.
- You carry most of the planning and remembering at home.
- You can’t stop working, even when you want to.
- Small tasks feel huge.
- You’ve been to therapy, understood a lot, and still feel stuck.
Deep tiredness can also come from medical problems, like thyroid issues, anemia or sleep apnea. If you’re exhausted all the time, see your doctor too.
Start here
When success has a cost no one sees.
The planning and worrying that no one counts.
Therapy Went Fine. Nothing Changed. →
When insight isn’t enough, and what to try instead.
See also: High-Functioning Anxiety · High-Functioning Depression · People-Pleasing · Perimenopause and Menopause
I treat this. I work with many high achievers and people who carry a lot for others.
How therapy works with me
We look at the whole load: work, home, family, and the rules you live by. Then we decide what can change, and in what order.
I pay close attention to your words. “I don’t have a choice.” “It’s easier if I just do it.” “I’ll rest when it’s done.” Those phrases often show how the load got so heavy.
Burnout lands on your relationships too. Partners feel the distance, or carry their own unseen load. Couples sessions can help you split the work more fairly. Sessions are by video, in English or Spanish.
Ready to stop running on empty?
Use your insurance · see your cost before you book
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Frequently asked questions
Is burnout the same as depression?
Not exactly, but they overlap. If rest and time off don’t help, it may be depression too. We can look at both.
I don’t have time for therapy. Can we make it work?
Sessions are by video, so you can join from home or the office. Many busy people find one hour a week saves them time.
Can my partner come too?
Yes. If the load at home is part of the problem, sessions together can help. Coverage depends on your plan.
I’ve been in therapy before and it didn’t help. Why would this be different?
Talking about problems isn’t always enough. I focus on the patterns that keep you stuck and on what you do differently between sessions.
Start with how tired you are
You don’t have to fix everything at once.
You can start with one sentence:
“I can’t keep doing this.”
We can start there.
In-network with Aetna, Cigna, Florida Blue, UnitedHealthcare and more through Headway · 53-minute sessions
Telehealth anywhere in Florida · English / Español
In crisis? Call or text 988.
Eduardo Florez, LMHC
Eduardo Florez, LMHC, has worked across forensic, institutional and private practice settings. He is the founder and clinical director of ShieldMee, a Florida nonprofit telehealth practice, and works bilingually with couples in crisis and clients for whom therapy hasn’t worked before.
Related hubs: Depression · Anxiety & OCD · Family & Parenting · All topics