5 Signs You’re Emotionally Burnt Out (And How to Start Healing)

“You don’t have to be healed to be worthy. You just have to be honest about where you are—and willing to come home to yourself.”

You’re NOT lazy. You’re NOT broken. YOU’RE BURNT OUT.

There’s a kind of tired that sleep doesn’t fix. It’s the kind where you’ve had a full night’s rest but still wake up with a heavy chest. I remember one morning sitting on the edge of my bed, staring at the floor, too emotionally drained to even reach for my phone. Not physically exhausted—just completely detached from everything. That’s the kind of tired I’m talking about. The kind that whispers, "You’re carrying too much, and no one can see it." A kind of numbness that coffee can’t mask. A silence you carry in your body, even when your lips are smiling and your life looks "fine."

That, bestie, is emotional burnout. And if you’re here reading this, there’s a good chance you’re already carrying it.

I know what that weight feels like. Waking up with heaviness instead of hope. Going through the motions while quietly falling apart. Pretending you’re fine because you’re the strong one, the one who always keeps it together. Until one day… you can’t.

This post is for the woman who’s still holding it all together but secretly crumbling. Let’s talk about what emotional burnout really looks like, and more importantly—how to start healing from it.

1. You’re Exhausted—But Not Just Physically

This isn’t just needing a nap. This is soul-deep fatigue. You wake up tired. You finish your day and feel like nothing is left in the tank. You’re doing "less" but feel more depleted.

Healing starts when you stop shaming yourself for being tired—and start listening to what your exhaustion is trying to say.

💭 Try this journal prompt: What does my body need from me today that I’ve been ignoring?

2. You Feel Disconnected From Yourself

You used to love journaling, dancing, reading, singing, creating, dreaming. Now? You feel flat. Like you’re watching your life from the outside in. You can’t remember the last time you felt lit up or deeply you.

Burnout makes us abandon ourselves before we even realize it. 💭 Journal prompt: What parts of yourself have gone quiet—and what would it feel like to invite them back into your life today?. But you can come home again.

💛 Start by reintroducing just one thing that used to bring you joy—without pressure. One song. One page. One moment.

3. You’re Emotionally Numb—or Emotionally Explosive

You either feel nothing at all, or everything all at once. You hold in your tears until they explode in a random breakdown. You smile at work and then cry in the shower. You’re not "crazy"—you’re overwhelmed, unprocessed, and overdue for emotional release.

Let yourself feel. That’s where the healing begins. And that doesn’t mean you have to fall apart in front of everyone. It might look like crying in your car after holding it in all day. It might be journaling through your anger instead of burying it. It might be giving yourself permission to pause instead of powering through. Feeling doesn’t have to be public to be powerful.

✨ Even if it’s messy, even if it’s inconvenient—your emotions are valid. Your feelings don’t make you weak. They make you real.

4. You’re in Constant Survival Mode

You might be functioning, but you’re not living. Your brain is scanning for what’s next, who needs you, what could go wrong. There’s no room for rest, only hyper-productivity, overthinking, and pressure to keep going.

Your nervous system doesn’t need more hustle. It needs regulation. It needs safety.

🌿 Start with breath. A few deep inhales. Put your hand on your heart. Remind yourself: I am safe. I am here. I am allowed to pause.

5. You’ve Lost Your Spark

You remember what it felt like to have vision, joy, creativity, confidence. But right now? It’s gone. You feel dull. You feel like a ghost of yourself.

That spark isn’t gone forever. It’s buried under years of survival. Let’s unearth it—together.

💥 Think of one small act that used to ignite something in you—and do it just for you. Even 5 minutes counts.

So… What Now?

I remember working with a client who told me, "I don’t even know what I like anymore. I’ve been in survival mode for so long, I forgot what it feels like to be myself." We started with 10 quiet minutes a day—just her, her journal, and permission to feel. It didn’t fix everything overnight. But it gave her the space to begin. To breathe. To remember.

Healing emotional burnout isn’t about bubble baths or running away to Bali (although, hey, if that’s your vibe, do it).

It’s about coming back to your nervous system. Your voice. Your needs. Your truth.

Here’s where you can start:

1. Create space for silence. Turn off the noise. Tune into yourself. Five minutes counts.

2. Journal honestly. Don’t filter. Don’t fix it. Just feel it.

3. Rest without guilt. You don’t earn rest. You deserve it.

4. Get supported. You don’t have to heal alone.

💫 I’ve been there. I’ve held that same silence. And I’ve risen from it too. You can too.

🎧 Want to dive deeper? Listen to this week’s episode of the Unapologetically Empowered podcast: “How to Be Brave When You’re Scared as Hell” → Listen

🦋 Ready to heal in community? Join Soulful Shift Academy—my monthly membership for healing, journaling, emotional clarity & self-worth. Explore the Academy → Join

You’re not too much. You’re not too sensitive. You’re not too emotional. On the other side of burnout is clarity, ease, peace, and a version of you who doesn’t just survive—but thrives. You’re just not meant to carry everything alone.

And you don’t have to.

You’re allowed to rest. To unravel. To heal. And when you’re ready… to rise.

🌷 And bestie? That moment might just be now.

Until Next Time,

Keep Being Amazing,

With love,

Erica Whalen

Life Coach

Mindful Empower

https://mindfulempower.ca

P.S. If today was a heavy day, this blog post was your permission slip to pause. You’re doing better than you think. 🦋