Burnout vs Stress: How to Tell the Difference & Start Healing with Gabrielle Juliano-Villani, LCSW

Caregivers are no strangers to burnout — but do you really know what it looks like when you’re in it? In this episode, Licensed Clinical Social Worker Gabrielle Juliano-Villani helps us untangle the difference between stress and burnout, what red flags to watch for, and how to reconnect with joy (even when it feels out of reach).

Gabrielle brings wisdom, lived experience, and a powerful metaphor you won’t forget: some of the balls you’re juggling are plastic… but others are glass. Knowing the difference might just change everything.

👤 Meet Gabrielle Juliano-Villani

Gabrielle Juliano-Villani is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, consultant, and the founder of GJV Consulting and Training. With a background in caregiving, chronic pain, and mental health, Gabrielle specializes in burnout prevention — teaching professionals and organizations how to recognize burnout, build emotional resilience, and foster supportive work cultures that allow people to thrive.

📌 Topics Discussed

The key differences between stress and burnout

How burnout shows up physically, mentally, and emotionally

Early warning signs you might be ignoring

The isolation caregivers face — even when surrounded by others

How to reconnect with joy when it feels out of reach

Simple but powerful tools for shifting out of burnout

Gabrielle’s glass vs. plastic ball metaphor

Why connection and appreciation are essential for recovery

⏱️ Timestamps (Approximate)

00:00 – Meet Gabrielle + her caregiving & mental health background

04:00 – Defining burnout vs. stress: “Too much” vs. “Not enough”

07:00 – Emotional signs of burnout: numbness, apathy, hopelessness

10:00 – The power of connection & the impact of isolation

16:00 – Support groups: why they matter (even when you resist them)

18:30 – How to spot changes in behavior that indicate burnout

22:00 – The caregiver identity shift and loss of personal baseline

25:00 – Questions to ask yourself if you think you're burned out

29:00 – Gabrielle’s reflections on the physical toll of burnout

32:00 – What brings you joy? And what to do if the answer is “nothing”

36:00 – Rebuilding joy through memory, movement, and intention

39:00 – EMDR, mental pathways & how the brain rewires

43:00 – Gabrielle’s advice to caregivers who feel unseen or unsupported

46:00 – The glass vs. plastic ball metaphor (don’t miss this!)

50:00 – How to get support from Gabrielle

💡 Key Takeaways

Burnout and stress are not the same. Stress is overstimulation; burnout is depletion.

Burnout often feels like apathy, numbness, hopelessness, or isolation.

Caregivers are usually the last to notice they’re burned out.

Connection is essential. Seek support, even if it’s through small new steps.

Your body remembers joy. Tap into past experiences to rebuild those neural pathways.

It’s okay to drop some of the balls — just catch the glass ones.

📚 Resources Mentioned

Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI)

EMDR Therapy

Support groups for caregivers (local and virtual)

🤝 Connect with Gabrielle Juliano-Villani

Find Gabrielle on LinkedIn

Email: leadingwithGJV@gmail.com

Available for consulting, training, retreats, and organizational support on burnout prevention and caregiver wellness.

🌿 Connect with Laura Vaillancourt & the Life on Repeat Podcast

Instagram: @lifeonrepeat.podcast

Facebook: facebook.com/Lifeonrepeatpodcast

Website: lifeonrepeatpodcast.com

Email: hello@lifeonrepeatpodcast.com

Professional Services: eldercarecounselor.com

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone you care about. 💛

Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on your favorite platform — and remember: you are not alone in this journey.