Stress and Anxiety Therapist Explains The 3 Hidden Layers of Burnout
Stress and Anxiety Therapist Explains The 3 Hidden Layers of Burnout
Written by: Lauran Hahn, LMHC
You’re doing everything you can to keep up— showing up, pushing through, getting things done. But inside, it’s getting harder to care. You’re tired in a way that rest doesn’t fix. You wonder if this is just how it’s going to be now.
Or maybe you’re the one people look to for answers—the leader holding the team together, spinning plates while trying not to drop your own. If things feel heavier than they used to, it’s not just you. The way we’re working isn’t working.
And that means burnout isn’t just a personal issue. It’s a leadership and culture issue—one that can be changed.
The 3 Hidden Layers of Burnout
This framework is adapted from a concept in Buddhist philosophy called the two darts:
The first dart is the pain we can’t avoid.
The second and third darts are the suffering created by workplace environments.
In the workplace, I’ve found that burnout often builds in three layers, and leaders can directly influence two of them.
The First Dart: Work Demands
Deadlines. Pressure. High stakes. This is the part of stress we expect, especially in fast-paced industries. And truthfully, some of this is necessary. Big pushes happen. People rise to the challenge. But without recovery or support, that push turns into a grind.
The Second Dart: Teams Feel Alone and Unsupported
This is where burnout deepens.
Expectations are unclear.
Communication is inconsistent.
Leadership is distracted or unavailable.
Teams are disconnected and isolated.
Even the most capable team member will start to crack under pressure when they feel like they’re carrying it alone. This is a dart that leaders can remove. Support doesn’t have to mean having all the answers. It means creating clarity, checking in, and making sure no one is silently drowning.
The Third Dart: Teams Fear Judgment
This one is quiet, but heavy.
People worry that asking for help will be seen as a weakness.
They avoid time off because they don’t want to look uncommitted.
They hide mistakes out of fear they’ll be punished or viewed as incompetent.
When the culture makes it unsafe to be human, people burn out from the inside out. This dart is also within leadership’s control. When you normalize vulnerability, admit mistakes, and take real breaks yourself, you create a culture where people don’t feel ashamed for needing rest or support. Burnout doesn’t just come from working hard. It comes from working hard in an environment that’s unsupportive and unsafe.
One Small Thing Leaders Can Do Today:
Start by removing a dart. Pick one way to increase clarity, connection, or safety for your team this week.
Set aside 15 minutes to check in with one direct report
Make expectations clear before the next meeting or project
Acknowledge your own limits out loud so others know it’s okay to have them too
You don’t need a complete overhaul. You just need to show that support is available—and judgment isn’t the price of honesty.
Need Support for Burnout, Stress, or Leadership Fatigue?
At Mindful Living Counseling, we offer trauma-informed therapy in Orlando and virtually, with a focus on anxiety therapy, trauma therapy, and the unique pressures that come with high performance and leadership.
We help professionals and leaders find clarity, reset their nervous systems, and build resilience—personally and within their teams.
Ready to Start Anxiety Therapy?
We are here to help professionals and leaders find clarity, reset their nervous systems, and build resilience—personally and within their teams. Real change starts with small, intentional shifts. Let’s get you back to steady.
Not Quite Ready for Anxiety Therapy?
At Mindful Living Counseling, we understand how difficult burnout can be—and how overwhelming it feels to take the next step toward support. You're not alone. While you're navigating this journey, we invite you to explore the blogs below!
Therapy Orlando Anxiety Resources
Stress & Anxiety Therapy Orlando: Burnout Is Preventable
Stress and Anxiety Therapist: Burnout and the Nervous System
An Anxiety Therapist Shares Everything You Need to Know About Anxiety
Orlando Anxiety Therapist Shares: How to Handle Life's Curveballs
Anxiety Therapy Orlando Shares A Guided Meditation: Presence & Intention
Orlando Therapist Shares Box Breathing Technique: A Tool for Anxiety
Anxiety Therapist Shares: 4-7-8 Breathing
Other Therapy Services Offered at Mindful Living Counseling in Orlando
At Mindful Living Counseling, we offer a variety of therapy services to address diverse needs! Our therapeutic options include EMDR therapy, trauma therapy, teen therapy, and toxic relationship therapy. Additionally, we provide guided meditations for our clients.
Anxiety Therapist Lauran Hahn
Lauran Hahn is an Orlando-based therapist who specializes in helping clients deal with anxiety and trauma. She is a Certified Sensorimotor Psychotherapist, a Certified EMDR Therapist, and an EMDRIA Approved Consultant. Lauran’s goal is to help individuals feel calm in their bodies, at peace in their minds, and connected in their relationships.