“Burnout” was coined by psychologist Herbert Freudenberger in the 1970s, as a way of describing a phenomenon that happens to many people in helping professions, such as the medical field and mental health. As experts have come to realize, burnout does not only affect those who are in a position to help. If you are experiencing a constant state of stress for a sustained period of time, this can happen to you as well.
The most common cause of burnout in people is their work environment. The problem can also be experienced by people who aren’t employed in a traditional job, such as celebrities or stay-at-home parents who have no traditional job. Students also experience burnout as a result of their studies.
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Burnout symptoms
Sometimes you may experience some of the symptoms of burnout for a few days or even a week every now and then. When you experience these symptoms on a regular basis for an extended period of time, it becomes Burnout.
It is a slow process that leads to burnout. At first, it may be difficult to detect the symptoms of this condition. It becomes more and more difficult to deal with these stressors until you learn how to manage them so they won’t cause your burnout over time.
The symptoms of burnout can be physical, behavioral, and emotional in nature.
Physical symptoms include:
- Having a feeling of exhaustion
- Changes in appetite that are noticeable
- Sleeping problems or sleeping too much or having difficulty falling asleep
- Anxiety and headaches
- Aches and pains in the muscles
- There is a tendency to get sick frequently
- Issues related to digestion
Behavior symptoms include:
- Having a feeling of withdrawal
- By isolating yourself from others
- The early departure from work or the late arrival at work
- Having a tendency to procrastinate more than usual
- Using drugs or alcohol as coping mechanisms instead of healthy coping mechanisms
- Having a tendency to act more irritable towards others
- There is a noticeable reduction in performance, usually at work
Emotional symptoms include:
- Having a feeling that you have failed
- A low sense of self-esteem is a common problem
- Feeling trapped in a burnout situation
- Unmotivated
- A cynic’s view
- Think negatively
- Satisfaction low
- Achievements harder to feel proud of
- Detachment
- Isolated
Burnout vs. Other Mental Illnesses
There are many similarities between burnout and other mental illnesses, such as depression, in terms of its symptoms. In addition to exhaustion, it can also look like general stress or exhaustion. When it comes to telling the difference between them, what can you do?
Exhaustion vs. burnout. Burnout is characterized by a variety of symptoms, including exhaustion. Unless you have some of the other symptoms listed above, you may not qualify as being burned out even if you are completely exhausted.
Stress vs. burnout. In the end, too much stress can lead to burnout, but just feeling stressed alone is not the same thing. You become hyperactive when you are stressed, trying to get everything done as soon as possible. There is a sense of urgency in your work, and you still believe that you are able to accomplish everything.
As a result of burnout, you lose your motivation and energy. There are times when you feel helpless and you might stop trying because you feel so overwhelmed that you do not believe that you can do all of the things you need to do.
Depression vs. burnout. There are a number of things that can cause feelings of burnout, but the most common is work-related stress. There is nothing worse than feeling hopeless about a situation when you are burned out. It is common for depression to affect various aspects of a person’s life or all of them at once.
Burnout causes
Burnout is associated with the following risk factors:
- Insufficiency of a work-life balance
- Excessive overtime work
- Working in the field of “helping”
- Being unable to control your work situation
- Overstretching your resources
- Performing repetitive tasks at work
- Recognition of achievements is lacking
- Workplace pressures are too high
- Having a tendency to perfection
- There is a general sense of pessimism
The Best Way to Manage Burnout
Don’t be afraid to reach out.
You can get great support from your coworkers, friends, and family members if you know where to look. As a result of the instinct to withdraw when one is burned out, it can often be easy to lose contact with friends and family members. The best thing you can do is to talk to a friend or ask for advice from a family member if you are struggling.
Consult a professional.
Burnout can be treated with the help of a therapist, counselor, coach, or any other mental health professional. A number of workplaces offer coaching and counseling services to their employees that are free or at a reduced rate. If you have access to that service, or if you seek someone out on your own, feel free to take advantage of it.
Get some exercise.
When you feel burned out, it is a great idea to move your body in order to take your mind off of what you are going through. As a result, you may also be able to relieve the underlying stress that is causing your burnout.
Mindfulness is key.
It is believed that mindfulness practices such as meditation, yoga, tai chi, and qi gong can help to alleviate symptoms associated with burnout.
You should take a vacation.
It can be refreshing if you take a break from the activity that is causing you to feel burnt out for at least a week or two. In some situations, it can provide temporary relief, but it is not a long-term solution.
Get a new work environment.
Feeling burned out at work? Discuss it with your manager or human resource department. Discuss how you can improve your home life with your partner and other people living there if your home life is draining you. Eventually, if your burnout does not get better, you may need to consider changing your job or your personal life in order to cope with it.
Make sure you get enough sleep every night.
The key to preventing burnout is to make sure you get enough rest. Try improving your sleep hygiene if you are having a hard time sleeping or ask your doctor if supplements or medications may be able to help you sleep better if your stress levels are too high.
Make sure you eat well.
You can help reduce your stress levels by including plenty of vitamin C in your diet, as well as magnesium and omega 3 fatty acids.