There is a kind of tiredness that can make a full night of sleep feel insufficient. A person may wake already depleted, need much more effort for ordinary tasks, feel detached from work they once cared about, lose patience more quickly or struggle to concentrate. It can be frightening when rest does not seem to bring the expected relief. That pattern does not prove burnout, depression, anxiety or any other diagnosis. Persistent fatigue can have many causes, including physical illness, infection, anaemia, thyroid conditions, menopause, sleep disorders, medication effects, pain, nutritional issues, substance use, caring responsibilities, grief, stress and mental health difficulties. A blog cannot determine the cause of someone’s exhaustion from their description. New, severe, changing or worrying tiredness should be discussed with an appropriate medical professional. This matters particularly where there is unexplained weight change, fever, chest pain, fainting, shortness of breath, neurological symptoms, severe sleep disruption or an inability to manage basic daily needs. Physical symptoms should not automatically be attributed to stress, overwork or anxiety. Workplace pressure can be part of the picture for some people. A person may be carrying an unmanageable workload, caring for others, feeling unable to switch off, working through illness, responding to constant messages or measuring their worth through output. Assessment helps avoid turning a complex experience into one label. CBT may be considered where it is appropriate after assessment. It does not promise to restore energy on a timetable, replace medical care or tell someone to leave a job. In therapy, a person may examine patterns such as perfectionism, overcommitment, avoidance, self criticism, boundaries, pacing and the difficulty of resting without guilt. Behavioural changes are not self directed instructions from an article. Where behavioural experiments are appropriate, they are planned with a qualified clinician, consent and attention to health, safety and practical constraints. If persistent exhaustion comes with hopelessness, thoughts of self harm, a crisis or an inability to keep yourself safe, urgent appropriate help is needed. For related information, see CBT support for burnout at lyceumclinic.co.uk/therapy/burnout/, the burnout clinical guide at lyceumclinic.co.uk/guides/burnout comprehensive guide/ and high functioning anxiety and burnout at lyceumclinic.co.uk/guides/high functioning anxiety burnout signs/. The Lyceum Clinic offers assessment led CBT online and in West London.