I’m Always Burnt Out, Even When I Rest

Last updated on 28 August 2025 by Brisbane Livewell Clinic Editorial Team

Many people reach a point where rest stops working. Holidays don’t restore energy. Weekends bring dread instead of relief. They describe a kind of burnout that feels deeper than physical fatigue – something emotional, psychological or even existential. For these patients, burnout isn’t just about work. It’s about the weight of holding too much for too long, without space to process or let go.

Holistic counselling with Nathan Gurry supports adults who are experiencing this kind of long-term exhaustion. If you’ve been over-functioning, hiding how tired you are, or feeling like something inside you has gone offline, this work offers a slower way to come back to yourself.

What Is Burnout at the Nervous System Level

Burnout isn’t always visible. Some people still show up at work, meet deadlines and respond to messages – but inside, they feel numb, detached or on the verge of collapse. For highly sensitive or neurodivergent people, burnout can come from years of masking, over-stimulation or emotional suppression.

Holistic counselling helps patients understand how their nervous system has adapted over time. When survival has been the default mode, rest may feel unfamiliar, unsafe or inaccessible. This work is not about pushing through. It’s about learning how to pause and feel again without overwhelm.

What to Expect in Sessions

Sessions are shaped around your capacity. You’re not expected to analyse, explain or push through anything. If you’re exhausted, we begin there. Some people talk. Others sit quietly. Stillness is respected. So is slowness.

There is no fixing or tracking progress. The work is relational and presence-based. If you feel scattered, foggy or emotionally flat, that becomes part of the process. Together, we begin to notice what your system is asking for, without judgement or urgency.

Who This Work Supports

This form of counselling is suitable for adults who:

Feel physically and emotionally exhausted most of the time
No longer respond to self-care or breaks
Have been in survival mode for months or years
Wake up tired or feel disconnected from joy
Function well externally while feeling hollow or overloaded internally
Struggle to find safe ways to express their limits, pain or truth

In-Person and Online Appointments Available

Nathan offers holistic counselling in person at Brisbane Livewell Clinic (Wavell Heights) and online across Australia. Many patients choose video sessions because even travel feels like too much. Both formats offer the same grounded presence and pacing.

Quote from Nathan Gurry

“A lot of the people I see have been carrying things for so long that burnout isn’t just physical – it’s emotional, spiritual and systemic. What they need most isn’t advice or motivation. It’s space to feel what they’ve been holding without being judged for it.”

Booking Information

Appointments are available during the week and can be booked online or by calling Reception on (07) 3861 5881. In-person sessions are held at Wavell Heights, close to Nundah, Clayfield and Chermside. Online sessions are available for anyone in Australia.

FAQs

1. Can holistic counselling help with long-term burnout?

Yes. This approach supports people experiencing physical, emotional or nervous system burnout. Rather than offering quick fixes, it helps patients reconnect with their capacity and learn how to move out of survival mode gently.

2. What does burnout feel like for highly sensitive or neurodivergent people?

Burnout may show up as emotional numbness, sensory overload, shutdown, irritability, fatigue or disconnection from joy. Many patients describe a sense of “not being able to get back to myself” even after rest.

3. Is this different from coaching or mindset work?

Yes. Holistic counselling is not performance-focused. It’s not about productivity or improvement. It’s about understanding your system, your needs and your patterns in a grounded, relational way.

4. Can I attend sessions even if I’m too tired to talk much?

Yes. You’re welcome exactly as you are. If you feel foggy, overwhelmed or quiet, that’s okay. Sessions can include silence, reflection or body-based awareness depending on what’s needed.

5. Is this just emotional support or does it include practical strategies?

The work is primarily relational and awareness-based. If strategies arise, they are guided by your needs – not given as homework or tasks. Some patients integrate grounding, rest or boundary work when they feel ready.

6. What happens in the first session?

The first session is a space to arrive. You’ll share as much or as little as feels possible. Nathan will support you to settle in without pressure or expectations.

7. I’ve been burnt out for years. Is this still worth exploring?

Yes. Even longstanding burnout can shift when the system begins to feel safe, resourced and less alone. Many people come to this work after years of internalising stress without relief.

8. Do I have to commit to a schedule?

No. Some patients book weekly, others fortnightly or monthly. You can adjust based on your needs and energy levels.

9. Can I do this work online?

Yes. Nathan offers holistic counselling online across Australia. Online sessions are often ideal for patients who are too depleted to travel or prefer their own space.

10. Is this suitable for men or professionals who don’t talk about emotions much?

Yes. Nathan works with adults from a wide range of backgrounds, including professionals, carers, parents and creatives. You don’t need to have emotional language to begin.

11. What if I don’t know how to rest?

That’s something we can explore. For many people, rest feels unfamiliar or even threatening. Holistic counselling helps you understand why and begin to approach it differently.

12. Do you offer trauma-informed care for burnout?

Yes. Sessions are paced gently and always centred on safety. If burnout is connected to trauma or chronic stress, this will be approached with care and consent.

13. Can I talk about work pressure, boundaries and expectations?

Yes. These topics are common in burnout counselling. We explore how your environment, relationships and expectations have shaped your current state.

14. How do I book a session?

You can book online or call Brisbane Livewell Clinic on (07) 3861 5881. Nathan sees patients in Wavell Heights and online across Australia.

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