Burnout is a state of exhaustion commonly associated with a high-pressure work environment, but it can impact all areas of your life. Due to prolonged periods of stress, you feel drained mentally, physically and emotionally.
Burnout can lead to a lack of motivation, reduce productivity and increase feelings of hopelessness and helplessness, adding to the stress. In addition, experiencing burnout can take a toll on other areas of your life and make you more prone to illness, so it's essential to seek professional help as soon as possible.
It's normal to have moments when you feel unmotivated, tired and dread taking on responsibilities. However, if you are experiencing this and accompanying symptoms every day, you may have burnout.
Burnout is a disorder that builds over time, so it's essential to spot the signs early on. These manifest in three different ways.
Mental symptoms:
Physical symptoms:
Behavioural symptoms:
Burnout is often the result of a demanding job, but it can stem from any role that causes high amounts of stress over a long period. Lifestyle habits and personality traits can also be contributing factors.
Work-related causes:
Lifestyle contributions:
Personality trait contributions:
Although burnout is the cause of prolonged stress, it is not the same as everyday stress. We experience stress from time to time and can recognise when we feel stressed. When stressed, we still believe that we can maintain control. But with burnout, we feel empty, drained and lack the motivation to meet demands. Those who experience burnout see no hope for their situation and are often unaware that they have burnout.
Burnout is easily treated with the proper support and lifestyle changes. I assess each case individually to determine the best treatment plan for my patients.
