Battling Burnout
A form of mental exhaustion, feelings of burnout can be caused by excessive and prolonged stress. In many cases, burnout is related to one's primary role, whether in the workplace, school, or at home.
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Burnout builds over time, so it can be difficult to overcome on your own. At RISE, we meet you with compassion and education to help you navigate this challenging experience.
What is Burnout?
Burnout, a feeling of exhaustion, is the result of disproportionate and drawn-out emotional, physical, and mental stress. One can feel overwhelmed, emotionally run-down, and struggle to meet constant demands. Over time, the stress causes loss of interest and motivation.
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Burnout can affect anyone, regardless of profession or lifestyle. Recognizing its signs is crucial for proactive intervention. At RISE, our therapists will work with you to identify and treat your symptoms of burnout, so you can get back to your normal life.
Common Causes of Burnout
Anyone who feels overworked and undervalued is at risk for burnout. Feelings of burnout are commonly associated with one's job, but other factors such as lifestyle and personality traits can contribute to burnout too.
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Work-related causes include overwhelming workloads, tight deadlines, lack of control over tasks, and good work that goes unrecognized. Monotonous and unchallenging work can also cause someone to feel burnt out.
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Lifestyle causes can include not getting enough sleep, relationship problems, health issues, and taking on too many responsibilities.
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Personality traits that can contribute to burnout include perfectionistic or high-achieving tendencies, a pessimistic worldview, and the need to be in control.
Signs of Burnout
A lot of burnout signs can feel like symptoms of stress. While both share similarities, they are distinct experiences with varying symptoms and implications. Here's a breakdown of burnout symptoms that one can experience:
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Feeling tired and drained, even after a full night's sleep
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Lowered immunity and frequent illnesses
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Headaches or muscle pain often
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Appetite or sleep habit changes
Types of Burnout
Overload burnout - due to working harder, frantically in pursuit of success.
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Under-challenged burnout - feeling unappreciated and bored, so one distances themselves from the job, becomes cynical, and avoids responsibilities.
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Neglect burnout - feeling helpless about one's primary role, such as things not going right, or believing one is incompetent and unable to keep up with responsibilities.
Treatment for Burnout
Recovery from burnout is possible with the right approach, which will vary from person-to-person. Some common treatments include:
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Therapy: professional counseling to explore underlying issues and develop coping strategies.
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Mindfulness and relaxation techniques: practices such as meditation and deep breathing help to reduce stress.
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Setting boundaries: establish clear boundaries between work and personal life.
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Self-care: prioritizing activities that bring joy and relaxation.
