How Stress Leads to Burnout

Burnout is a thing, but how do we recognise when it is upon us, or where it has taken over?

What is Burnout?

Burnout can be caused by stress, but it isn't the same. Stress tends to be short lived reaction that although difficult, we can work with and work through. Burnout impacts your functioning, leaving you with a sense of detachment (from yourself and/or others), demotivation and hopelessness that there is no opportunity for your situation to change. It feels like there is no way out and you are stuck.

Although burnout is usually thought of as being work related, it is also impacted by other areas of our lives - finances, family, expectations, living with chronic conditions or illness.

What can be the impacts of Burnout?

Burnout can be a cause of mental illness and can be a risk factor in conditions such as anxiety and depression. Learning about what to look out for and finding tools to take care of yourself can help you to stay well. It is important to catch it before it sucks away your energy and motivation, before the overwhelm takes hold.

What does Burnout feel like?

This is different for every one, but some of the things you might want to check in with yourself about are changes in:

• Fatigue

• Irritability or lack of patience

• Cynicism, negativity, fear

• Sadness and hopelessness, a feeling of being stuck

• Feeling of dread

• Relationships inside and outside of work

• Lack of focus at work and/or at home

• Tension in the body including headaches, changes in appetite and stomach pains

• Difficulty sleeping

How do we work through Burnout

Psychological safety in the work place is essential. Take a moment, be honest with yourself and make a note of how you feel about your relationship with your colleagues; your manager; your department; your organisation.

• Do you feel like they have got your back or like they will take you down to save themselves?

• Do you feel like you can be honest with them about where you are at or that it will be used against you?

• Do you feel like you can be yourself, as you are, with them or that you have to play a role or put a mask on?

• Are other people in your team treated, and talked about, with respect?

If these questions raise feelings of not being safe, is this a present risk or have you been hurt, bullied, belittled in the past and your past is trying to keep you safe in the present?

These can be difficult things to unravel and this is something counselling sessions can help with. Employers often offer Employee Assistance Programmes where you can access a short course of counselling. Alternatively, feel free to give me a shout and we can have a chat about how I can work with you to help untangle things so you can feel in control, know what to say and how best to look after yourself moving forward.