Anxiety

“Burnout in Women: How Stress Shut Down My Body and Was Mistaken for Early Menopause”

07/02/2025

The Rise of Burnout in Women Over Men

Statistics show that stress and burnout are affecting more women than men en masse. Why – and what happens next?

For years, I pushed through exhaustion, thinking it was just part of life. But when my cycles stopped, I was misdiagnosed with early menopause. In reality, it was stress. My body had been holding onto tension for so long that it finally reached a breaking point. The burnout had built up in ways I didn’t recognize at first—small things, like struggling to concentrate, feeling emotionally drained, and waking up already exhausted.

Burnout is a state of exhaustion: physical, mental, and emotional. It sneaks up over time, making you feel lackluster for no apparent reason. While different for everyone, there are some general signs:

Anxiety/stress

Depression/low mood

Irritability/anger

Sleep disturbances

Lack of motivation/passion

Lack of concentration/memory loss/brain fog

Withdrawal from others

Physical symptoms (headaches, body aches, nausea, low libido)

Emotional fragility

For women, burnout is particularly prevalent. A survey by LinkedIn found that 74% of women reported feeling very or somewhat stressed for work-related reasons, compared with just 61% of men. Another analysis showed that working mothers are 23% more likely to experience burnout than working fathers due to unequal demands of home and work responsibilities.

The imbalance is deeply ingrained. Many women are juggling careers, caregiving, household responsibilities, and societal expectations—often without the support they need. Add to that the gender pay gap, fewer leadership opportunities, and workplace biases, and it’s no surprise that so many women are struggling with burnout at an alarming rate.

I had to take a step back and reassess everything when I realized my body was shutting down from stress. It wasn’t easy, but I learned that self-care isn’t just about bubble baths and meditation—it’s about setting boundaries, asking for help, and prioritizing mental and physical well-being.

being exhausted at work is no longer. badge of honour to wear. It’s a sign that you are damaging your own health by pushing beyond your limits.

Burnout isn’t something to ignore. It can affect anyone, at any time. If you’re feeling exhausted, unmotivated, or disconnected, it’s time to listen to your body and make a change. The solution isn’t always quitting your job or making drastic changes—it starts by changing your mindset around why you push yourself, what you are trying to prove, your life priorities i.e family, friends, social time and understanding there is so much more to life than just grinding it out.

If you want some help and support around this please reach out to me and I’d love to support you.

Emma x



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Hi, I'm Emma Ritchie

For years, I struggled with low self-worth, self-doubt, and a deep disconnection from who I truly was. I wore the mask, played the roles, and did what I thought I should do—but inside, I felt lost. It wasn’t until I turned inward and began healing the relationship I had with myself that everything changed.

Real transformation starts when you work at the level of your energy, emotions, and mind—because only then can your behaviours shift and your outer world reflect your inner truth.

Today, my greatest passion is helping others do the same. I support people to integrate all parts of themselves—the light, the shadow, the wounds, the wisdom—and to dissolve the layers of judgement, shame, and not-enoughness that keep them small.

When you shift how you relate to yourself, everything begins to align.
You step into confidence, clarity, and calm—inside and out.
You stop waiting for permission and start creating the life you were born to live.
You call back your power.
You remember who you truly are.

READ MY STORY

HERE'S A BIT ABOUT ME...