“I’m Burnt Out”: Understanding Burnout and How Therapy Can Help
When the demands of life start to feel overwhelming, both our minds and bodies have a reaction to this. We may feel more exhausted, find small things to be extremely irritating and for some, this is we may find ourselves leaning on negative coping mechanisms to help manage our stress. Burnout has become more common, especially as this term is starting to be talked about more often. It can creep up silently and slowly, until suddenly every task feels like a huge chore, taking a huge toll on your overall wellbeing. But what exactly is burnout, and how can therapy help with coping with it?
What is Burnout?
Burnout syndrome was introduced in the 1970’s as an experience triggered by work-related stress that results in exhaustion, feeling disconnected from oneself and reduced personal accomplishment¹. This can lead to physical, mental and emotional impacts as the stress continues to increase due to feeling drained and unable to meet demands of the workplace. Additionally, research found that burnout is a progressive decline in regards to the levels of engagement that one has with their job, ranging from enthusiasm to apathy².
Causes of Burnout
Burnout is not an immediate response, but rather a gradual reaction to work stressors often due to a variety of factors:
Lack of control: Feeling a lack of control may make you feel powerless in your position.
Work overload: Having too many responsibilities with little support can be stressful.
Lack of job resources: Unsupportive work environments may lack necessary resources needed to complete the job tasks.
Poor work/life balance: Work spilling into life responsibilities can cause overwhelm.
Value differences: Working in an environment with different values or beliefs than you hold can feel daunting.
Signs of Burnout
Burnout may look different for everyone, even when the impacts may be the same. Some of the most common signs of burnout includes:
Sleep difficulties
Difficulty concentrating or easily being distracted
Physical tension, headaches or inability to feel relaxed
Irritability
Loss of motivation
The Role of Therapy When Experiencing Burnout
In addition to lifestyle changes and self-care activities, therapy can play a vital role in managing burnout. Therapy can help you identify the root causes of burnout while also creating a safe space for you to begin processing feelings that may be contributing to burnout. Having a space to be able to begin navigating potential changes that will need to be made that have been causing burnout may also be important, which therapy is a good resource for. Ongoing support may also help you cultivate more self-compassion while also learning coping skills to handle the symptoms that come with burnout. Consistent resources while you’re experiencing burnout can help you recenter.
Final Thoughts
Burnout is typically your mental and physical signal that a change may be needed in your life. By understanding the signs and causes of burnout, we can begin to take steps towards rebalancing our lives and create a more fulfilling lifestyle.
Sources
1. What is burnout syndrome (BOS)? American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 194(1), 1-2
2. Montero-Marin, J., Prado-Abril, J., Demarzo, M.M.P., Gascon, S., Garcia-Campayo, J. (2014). Coping with stress and types of burnout: Explanatory power of different coping strategies. PLOS One, 9(2)
Samantha Burns, MA, LPC
Samantha is the administrative assistant for Flourish Counseling & Wellness. Samantha is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Colorado and enjoys working with adolescents and young adults who are experiencing challenges with trauma, depression and anxiety.