Ever finally rest and still feel guilty about it. Hi, I’m Dr. Tom McDonagh, a psychologist at Good Therapy SF. Many people feel burned out, but still can’t relax without guilt.
This feeling isn’t a failure of self-care. It’s something your nervous system has learned over time.
So a few main points. Your brain equates rest with risk. If productivity was tied to worth or safety, rest can feel threatening instead of restorative.
Second, burnout doesn’t switch off instantly, even when work stops. Your nervous system may still be stuck in the on position.
And last guilt is often learned, not earned. Feeling bad while resting usually comes from internalized expectations, not actual urgency.
So what do we do about this? Rest needs to feel safe before it feels good. True recovery starts when your body learns it’s okay to slow down.
So if you’re burned out but can’t truly rest therapy can help you unwind the pressure and rebuild a healthier relationship with rest.
