The Hidden Toll of Doing It All: Anxiety and Overwork in South Asian Professionals and Therapy for Burnout in NYC

In New York City, the energy is electric, the career ladders steep—and for many South Asian professionals, the drive to “do it all” can begin long before the first job. Achieve well in school. Enter a “prestigious” field. Keep the family proud. In the midst of all that momentum, a quieter story often unfolds: constant performance, little rest, creeping anxiety, and the feeling that every win demands a new one right away. This blog explores how South Asian therapy for burnout in NYC can help you navigate these pressures with greater clarity and support.

When “Doing it All” Means Never Pausing

Research into South Asian Americans’ mental health reveals key risk factors for distress: the weight of parental expectations, cultural norms around endurance and sacrifice, and a tendency toward self-reliance rather than help-seeking. Karasz and colleagues (2019) noted elevated rates of mental-health disorders among South Asian immigrants and their descendants, often going unaddressed due to stigma or cultural silence.

Additionally, a recent commentary in Psychology Today observes that “Burnout is a serious issue … but it can be particularly challenging for South Asians” because of compounded pressures of performance, family expectations, and cultural norms around help-seeking.

For a South Asian professional in NYC, burnout doesn’t always feel like collapse. It might feel like constant fatigue, the inability to ever switch off, self-criticism when not maximising every hour, and a perpetual anxiety even in achievement. The storyline isn’t “I failed” but “I’m doing well—but why does it never feel enough?”

What Drives Burnout in South Asian Professionals?

Relentless workload + overlapping roles

Many South Asian professionals enter sectors—consulting, law, finance, tech—with long hours as the norm. Layer on the expectations of family support (financial or otherwise), cultural obligations, and the immigrant narrative of “sacrifice so you can succeed,” and the load builds. According to a 2024 study in Southeast Asia (though not U.S.-based), working > 50 hours/week was significantly correlated with burnout (Adjusted OR = 1.38). 

While the U.S.-specific data for South Asian professionals are limited, the patterns align: long hours, perfectionism, external expectations, and limited downtime form a perfect burnout storm.

Perfectionism, fear of letting others down, and cultural duty

For many in South Asian cultures, there is an underlying message: success is not only personal—it’s collective. The family belief may be: “Our effort led here; don’t let it go to waste.” This resonates in qualitative accounts of South Asian professionals describing how rest feels “undeserved,” boundaries feel like betrayal, and showing vulnerability equals weakness.

This means the person never just works—they work with the fear of disappointing someone, of being “less than” the ideal, of having to hide cracks. Over time, that constant hyper-vigilance erodes energy and well-being.

Invisible labour: identity, belonging and the cost of “success”

Success in a high-achieving field often sets the baseline—but for many South Asian professionals in NYC, identity remains complicated. There may still be the experience of “othering,” cultural mismatch, or an internal split between the drive to succeed and the longing to belong more genuinely. When achievement becomes the primary identity marker, rest, doubt, and complexity get sidelined.

As one writer put it: “Burnout isn’t just about work or parenting. It’s about proving you … surviving in spaces you were told you’d thrive in.”

Why This Matters—and Our Approach to South Asian Therapy for Burnout in NYC

At Boundless, we’re acutely aware that the “doing it all” narrative can mask deeper pain. Seeing successful professionals externally thriving, internally exhausted, is all too common. Leveraging culturally-attuned South Asian therapy helps clients recognise: this exhaustion is not simply “part of the job”—it may be signalling something important.

1. Naming the burnout beneath the suit

We help clients identify and name burnout symptoms: emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and a reduced sense of accomplishment. The classic model of burnout (Christina Maslach’s three-component framework) emphasises these. In a South Asian way of life, they may not call it “burnout”—they call it “just doing well”—which makes therapy’s job to translate the language of suffering into the language of change.

2. Exploring cultural meaning and internalised obligation

We invite clients to explore the why behind their workload, achievement, and restless success. What’s the story of duty and identity behind the late nights, multiple projects, and inability to rest? What parts of this narrative still serve you—and which no longer do? This is especially salient when cultural narratives (immigrant sacrifice, family expectation) are running silently in the background.

3. Redefining success, integrating rest and boundary-setting

Our therapists at Boundless aim to help you redefine what success means for you. It may include rest, connection, creativity—not just the next promotion. It might include saying “no” to one more extra project so you can say “yes” to a day off. A clinical commentary highlighted that for South Asians, rest is often mislabelled as laziness—but it’s actually part of sustainable achievement. 

4. Building sustainable rhythms

High achievement without rest is a burnout guarantee. We work with clients to build rhythms that include recovery, pleasure, boundary-setting, cultural authenticity, and self-compassion. The goal: you aren’t just performing success—you are living success with depth and resilience.

Closing Thoughts from a South Asian Therapist in NYC

If you’re a South Asian professional in NYC, you’ve likely carried a heavy load: professional ambition, cultural expectations, familial duty, and the drive to thrive. When that load becomes invisible, and you’re still pushing—even while exhausted—it’s time to pause and ask: Is all this doing working for me, or am I doing myself over?

You already have the achievement. The next step is reclaiming the human underneath it: the rest-worthy, complexity-embracing, imperfect self. At Boundless, we don’t just help you survive the hustle—we help you transform it into something you choose.

Transform Exhaustion into Healing with Therapy for Burnout in NYC

The constant push to achieve, impress, and keep going can leave South Asian professionals in NYC feeling drained, anxious, and disconnected from themselves. At Boundless, we understand how cultural expectations, family pressure, and perfectionism can compound the stress of overwork. Our therapists offer a supportive, culturally responsive space where you can slow down, reflect, and begin healing from the emotional toll of doing it all.

Here’s how to begin your journey with Boundless:

1. Schedule a consultation to share your story and connect with a therapist who understands South Asian achievement culture and its impact on burnout.

2. Book your first South Asian therapy session to explore the roots of overwork, exhaustion, and anxiety, including therapy for burnout in NYC.

3. Begin healing with guidance that honors your lived experience and helps you reclaim balance, self-worth, and a healthier relationship with success.

You don’t have to keep carrying this pressure alone. With the right support, you can rebuild your energy, rediscover clarity, and create a life that feels grounded—not just accomplished.

Evidence-Based Therapy Services at Boundless

At Boundless, we know that no two healing paths are the same. That’s why we provide a wide range of therapeutic services designed to support individuals, couples, and families through every stage of life. Our therapists offer culturally attuned care for South Asian couples, LGBTQ+ clients, and anyone working through trauma, anxiety, burnout, depression, or relationship challenges.

Our clinicians incorporate a variety of evidence-based modalities, including EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with Exposure and Response Prevention (EXRP), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Somatic Experiencing paired with mindfulness. We also offer group therapy, professional supervision and training, and adaptable online therapy options.

Get to Know Prerna Menon, South Asian Therapist in NYC

Prerna Menon, LCSW, is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional who offers warm, trauma-informed care to individuals working through childhood sexual abuse, incest, addiction, existential questions, and complex family dynamics. She also works closely with clients facing race-related stress, exploring gender and sexuality, or navigating the complexities of cross-cultural identity.

With a deep understanding of the pressures experienced by international students and those who move between cultures, Prerna provides a therapeutic space that embraces both vulnerability and strength. Her approach supports clients in processing emotional pain, building self-awareness, and reclaiming a sense of empowerment grounded in authenticity and cultural connection.