Stress vs. Burnout: What’s the Difference and How Can Reflexology Help?
- Tanya
- Apr 17
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 25
In today’s fast-paced world, feeling overwhelmed has become almost normal. But there’s a big difference between everyday stress and full-blown burnout. Understanding that difference, and knowing how to manage it, is key to protecting your mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing.
As a reflexologist, I see many clients who arrive feeling drained, anxious, or just “not themselves.” Often, they’re not sure whether they’re simply stressed, or if they’ve crossed the line into burnout. Let’s explore the difference between the two, and how reflexology can support your journey back to balance.
Stress vs. Burnout: What’s Going On?
Stress is a response to pressure. It might come from work, relationships, financial concerns, or even your own high expectations. You feel tense, wired, perhaps even anxious, but usually, you’re still functioning. You might feel like you're juggling a lot, but you're still juggling.
Burnout, on the other hand, is what happens when stress goes on too long, without enough rest or recovery. It’s more than tiredness; it’s a deep emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion. You may feel unmotivated, detached, hopeless, or like you’re running on empty no matter how much sleep you get.
Here’s a quick comparison:
Stress | Burnout |
Over-engaged, hyperactive | Disengaged, emotionally depleted |
Physical tension, anxiety | Depression, detachment |
Still hopeful things can improve | Feels like there’s no way out |
Urgency and pressure | Numbness and fatigue |
How Reflexology Can Help
Reflexology is a gentle yet powerful complementary therapy that works on specific reflex points on the feet, hands, face or ears. The theory is that these points correspond to different organs and systems in the body. When stimulated, they help restore balance, ease tension, and support natural healing.
For Stress, reflexology can:
Calm the nervous system and reduce the “fight or flight” response
Lower blood pressure and heart rate
Improve sleep quality
Create a deep sense of relaxation and wellbeing
For Burnout
When stress has tipped over into burnout, reflexology becomes more than a relaxation tool, it’s a space for restoration and can:
Help regulate cortisol and other stress hormones
Reconnect you with your body’s needs
Encourage emotional release and grounding
Support deep, cellular-level recovery over time
What the Research Says
Scientific studies continue to highlight reflexology’s positive effects on stress and emotional fatigue:
🌀 McVicar et al. (2007) found that reflexology significantly reduced anxiety in patients undergoing surgery, helping them feel calmer and more in control.
🌀 Mollart et al. (2003) showed that reflexology reduced physical stress responses, like elevated blood pressure.
🌀 Kunz & Kunz (2008) compiled numerous case studies showing how reflexology improves quality of life, especially when emotional stress is high.
You Don’t Have to Do It Alone
If you’re feeling frazzled, foggy, or like your spark is fading, know this: healing is possible. Whether you’re managing everyday stress or recovering from burnout, reflexology can be a supportive, nurturing companion on your journey back to balance.
You deserve to feel grounded, calm, and whole. I’d love to help you get there. Tanya x
💜 Ready to give your nervous system some TLC? Book a reflexology session today and let your body exhale.