Signs You Are Experiencing Burnout!

Stress is often deemed as the fire that forges success. We push ourselves continuously for ever-changing goals throughout our lives. School! College! Carrier! Work! Marriage or relationships! Friends and Family occasions!

What burnout can feel like: an overwhelming sensation of trying to complete all tasks.

The pressure of all the responsibilities on our shoulders can mould diamonds, right? BOOM, there is a wildfire! The flames of stress may have given you a win, but it also burned too hot and burnt your mental and physical well-being. What is left is the landscape of burnout, where remains of exhaustion and despair smoulder from the embers of stress.

So, What is Burnout?

It is a mental, physical and emotional state of exhaustion due to prolonged stress. It is caused when there are constant demands creating a sense of overwhelm and emotional drain. It eventually leads to a lack of interest, low energy, and motivation, reducing productivity, causing helplessness, cynicism and resentment.

As you navigate life, trying to live up to the gazillion expectations, stress is like an oven that slowly turns up the heat, leading to a dance where the ground is too hot to put down your feet, hurting every aspect of your well-being. 

In the beginning, you may ignore it and see it as a side effect of success because it is a testament to your dedication and resilience. But as the days turn into weeks and the weeks into months, that fire transforms into an inferno, threatening to burn you. 

Stages of Burnout

Burnout is best explained by Hans Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) model.

According to the model, there are three stages to burnout:

1. Alarm Stage

Imagine you have weeklong exams, and at the start, you have trembling hands and butterflies in your stomach, which propels you to study harder.

The alarm reaction is when the stress causes a fight-or-flight response, with symptoms like increased heart rate and rapid breathing helping you engage with the immediate task. 

2. Resistance Stage

You have managed to get through the first three exams, but by the time the fourth exam approaches, your energy starts depleting. By nature, the body has a tendency to recuperate after the initial shock of stress. 

However, if the stress persists, it does not get the opportunity, and the body's resources slowly start depleting due to continuous stress, causing various health and mental health conditions.

3. Exhaustion Stage

You may manage to push through exam week but continue to experience anxiety, depression, insomnia and wonder how you are going to get through the rest of the semester.

In the exhaustion stage, the body's resources are depleted due to enduring stress. This can cause health conditions, mental health problems, and risks to the immune system.            

Recognizing the Signs of Burnout and Risk Factors

Burnout can be caused by factors like heavy workload, lack of autonomy, and a mismatch between personal values and the task at hand. Personal characteristics like perfectionism and difficulty setting boundaries can also contribute to burnout. Certain professions may cause caregiver burnout.

Types of Burnouts

Burnout can sneak up on us in different ways. Therefore, it is essential to understand the types of burnout.

Overload burnout is like a fire fed too much fuel, burning brightly and intensely. Individuals may experience this type of burnout when they feel overwhelmed with excessive demands and responsibilities, leading to feelings of exhaustion.

Under-challenged burnout is like a fire with low flames due to the lack of oxygen it needs to burn brightly. People may face this burnout due to unstimulated work, leading to a feeling of boredom and lack of motivation.

Neglect burnout is the fire that is left unattended and dies out from neglect. When individuals feel unsupported, unappreciated, or disconnected from their work, they may feel neglect and burnout, causing emotions like cynicism, detachment, and reduced professional efficacy.

Recognize Burnout

It is crucial to evaluate the situation and engage in self-care, have realistic goals, set boundaries, foster social support networks, and address underlying stressors. Positive activities that promote well-being like exercise, hobbies, and relaxation techniques can help deal with burnout.  

Recovery and Coping Amidst the Burnout 

Recovering from burnout often involves lifestyle changes, therapy, and stress-reduction techniques, cognitive-behavioural techniques, mindfulness practices, and relaxation exercises that can help individuals cope with burnout symptoms and prevent relapse.

Encouraging open communication and destigmatizing discussions about mental health in the workplace, family and with peers can facilitate early intervention and support for individuals experiencing burnout.

Just as firefighters extinguish wildfires, we can recover from burnout by understanding it and its impact on mental health and overall well-being. Burnout spreads and causes significant damage if not managed like wildfires. By prioritizing self-care, setting boundaries, seeking support, and addressing underlying stressors, we can navigate through the challenges of burnout and emerge stronger on the other side.

Remember, burnout is not a sign of weakness, but rather a signal that we need to take care of ourselves. By recognizing and addressing burnout early, we can prevent further damage and emerge from the intense heat with renewed energy and vitality.

In conclusion, just as every wildfire eventually subsides, we too can emerge from the intense heat of burnout with newfound strength, resilience and emerge stronger on the other side.