6 Signs Your Daughter is Suffering from Burnout

Oct 22, 2021

As your daughter gets back into her regular school routines, now is a great time to remind ourselves about the intense days that lie ahead.

Between school, homework, extracurriculars, and social time, it’s no wonder that teens are feeling tired and stressed out. When these feelings go on for an extended period of time, they can easily lead to burnout, a condition that was recently identified as an “occupational phenomenon” by the World Health Organization.

Over the last several years, researchers have determined that teens are suffering from stress levels that rival even adults. In a 2014 survey, more than 30% of teens reported feeling overwhelmed, and the same number had also experienced depression or sadness because of their stress levels.

In the last year and a half, stress levels across the board have only gotten worse as we’ve all struggled to retain some normalcy during the COVID-19 pandemic. One survey of parents done in March 2021 had a few concerning takeaways:

  • 75% of parents said that the pandemic harmed their children’s connections with friends
  • 46% of parents noticed their child’s mental health worsened since the start of the pandemic
  • 1 in 4 parents have sought help for their child from a mental health provider

The Challenges of Identifying Burnout in Your Daughter

When all these challenges combine with the busyness of our girls’ day-to-day activities, it can be a recipe for burnout. However, many parents do not know how to identify signs of burnout in themselves, much less their own daughters.

Here are some of the most important signs and symptoms of childhood and teen burnout you need to know.

1. A new lack of motivation
There are some tasks that have just never interested your child, and that’s ok. However, if they are suddenly feeling a lack of motivation related to tasks they used to enjoy, or at least perform without complaining or stalling, this could be a sign of burnout.

2. Ongoing apathy
Sometimes kids have bad days. We’ve all experienced the feeling of asking your child about their day at school only to get a one-word response or grunt in return. However, if your child is apathetic about things they used to be excited about, or have seemed generally apathetic for several weeks, this is a cause for concern.

3. Negativity
Does your daughter have an overwhelmingly negative attitude about everything? The inability to focus on positives is a common sign of burnout.

4. Emotional instability
All kids give in to their emotions occasionally – this is a common hallmark of the teen years. However, if your daughter seems more emotional or impulsive than normal, or is unable to check her reactions, this could be a sign of burnout.

5. Insomnia
Does your daughter get up in the middle of the night or stay awake for hours trying to fall asleep? Poor sleep habits are a sign of stress and burnout.

6. Physical symptoms
There are many different physical symptoms that are all excellent indicators of burnout. Some of these include:

  • Stomach aches
  • Headaches
  • Dizziness
  • Dry mouth
  • Neck or back pain

If your daughter is suffering from burnout, there are many things that you can do to help her regain her equilibrium. Practicing mindfulness meditation or journaling are both habits that can help your daughter lower her stress level and increase her resilience to anxiety and stress in the future.

Looking for more resources to help your daughter thrive in the stress and uncertainty of the teen years? Check out our blog for more.