Breaking the burnout cycle: What is burnout?

Breaking the burnout cycle: What is burnout?

Update: 2025-09-23
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Feeling drained, unmotivated, or stuck in survival mode? In part one of our “Breaking the Burnout Cycle” series, host Cate Osborn and psychologist Dr. Shauna Pollard unpack the question: What is burnout? They explore the signs to watch for, how to recognize when you’re in it, and how it’s different from depression.

If you’ve been wondering whether what you’re experiencing is burnout, this episode is a good place to start.

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Timestamps

(00:00 ) A word from Cate on burnout

(01:50 ) What is burnout? How is it different than depression?

(05:57 ) What happens when ADHD perfectionism and overcommitting meets burnout?

(08:06 ) How do we know that we’re starting to get burnout? How can we tell if it’s burnout or depression?

(12:11 ) How to recognize whether your battery is low or completely tapped out

(15:55 ) How to get to know ourselves and our bodies better to help us in the future

(22:57 ) Burnout spreading from work into the home

(26:39 ) Outro and credits

For a transcript and more resources, visit the Sorry, I Missed This show page on Understood.org. We love hearing from our listeners! Email us at sorryimissedthis@understood.org.


Explore Through My Eyes today. Step into the world of three kids with ADHD, dyslexia, and dyscalculia — helping you see differently so you can act differently.

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Breaking the burnout cycle: What is burnout?

Breaking the burnout cycle: What is burnout?

Understood.org