As everyday life becomes increasingly complex, the claims on our time soar exponentially - caring for aging parents, juggling family schedules, school pressures, job layoffs and longer work shifts, frustrating technologies, money worries...........and the list goes on. It's no wonder that stress and burn out seem to be reaching epidemic proportions. While our systems do their best to deal with these physical and emotional stresses, when the pressure becomes too much to handle, our systems send us warning signs, which if unheeded will lead to complete burn out and possibly dis-ease, forcing us to stop and take stock. Indeed, Gabor Mate, in his book When the Body Says No, compellingly illustrates how stress is a major factor in the onset of all chronic illness. While stopping and taking stock is a good starting place, sometimes our systems need help to regain balance, which is where homeopathy has much to offer.

Homeopathy uses minute doses of natural remedies, prescribed to match as closely as possible each person's symptom picture, and so, because each person responds uniquely to stress and burn out there is no one, specific, "burnout" or "stress" remedy. However, some remedies are known to be highly effective in certain situations, for example, a single mother, who feels overwhelmed and worn out from competing family and work demands, is depressed and irritable, feels better crying, but wants to be left alone, and feels sluggish and indifferent to her loved ones, may benefit from Sepia. A caregiver, worn out from long hours looking after a sick elderly parent or spouse may respond well to Muriatic acid.

Picric acid may be helpful for someone who is so burnt out that they are apathetic, can't concentrate, and don't want to talk or think, and Natrum carbonicum is useful for someone who is exhausted, depressed, gloomy and can't think.

Mental strain, with irritability and resentfulness toward help, leading to collapse, after an exam, work or business project for example, may indicate Silica, whereas Gelsemium and Lycopodium are helpful where there is anxiety and stress about exams or workplace presentations.

Causticum is a good remedy for someone facing workplace layoffs and who becomes involved in fighting the injustice, whereas the person who resonds with resentment and indignation - "How could this happen to me?" - might respond well to Staphysagria.

Depression caused by personal failure or business loss, suggests Aurum, whereas Natrum muriaticum may be helpful for depression from loss or many disappointments, such as not being promoted at work.

Concern about the future, especially financial security, suggests Arsenicum, and an anxious, hurried feeling of being out of control, with anxiety about what may happen, is more typical of Argentium nitricum, whereas, Gelsemium anticipates the worst and dreads bad news.

Acute grief about the end of a relationship suggests Ignatia, and Natrum muriaticum will help where there is also a sadness about letting go of the past.

Children who experience the stress of parents separating may feel great anxiety at might in bed, and may be helped by Magnesium muriaticum, and Baryta carbonica can help if a child regresses and becomes mentally withdrawn because of bullying at school.

Since prevention is better than cure, it's best to consult a homeopath before you reach that end-stage burn out, because a well-matched remedy will help balance the system and the mental and emotional behaviours which exacerbate response to stressful events.