November 2021 | Page 40

Wellbeing

How to spot whether you ’ re suffering from burnout

Burnout arises when someone is in a state of constant stress , an abnormal way to be and yet many people carry on trying to live like this . Nerja Wellbeing Coach David Hurst explains what ’ s behind burnout and what can be done to resolve it – and really start living again .
So many people live in a state of burnout that they almost forget what it is like not to be like that . So every day they battle on – feeling anxious , isolated and totally exhausted . When someone ’ s suffering from burnout they usually feel extreme tiredness , an overall emptiness and as if they are a shell of who they used to be . Regular daily living can seem impossible .
Living a life with too much and too frequent stress is what can lead to burnout . This includes studying and working too much without a break . Or socialising too much , which is also frequently connected to excessive drinking and substance abuse . Burnout can also be due to constantly caring for someone who is dependent , such as someone who ’ s chronically ill or needs help because of their age . It can also be from looking after and / or looking out for someone who has mental health problems , including depression , alcoholism or another addiction .
Originally used in a mental health sense by psychologist Herbert Freudenberger in his 1974 book “ Burnout : The High Cost of High Achievement ”, burnout was defined by Freudenberger as : “ The extinction of motivation or incentive , especially where one ’ s devotion to a cause or relationship fails to produce the desired results .”
A study by work management company Asana published this year revealed 75 per cent of workers in the UK reported suffering with burnout in 2020 . It ’ s a modern-day tragedy as if people continue trying to live in a state of burnout they are likely to eventually completely crash .
It is useful to know some of the major signs of burnout :
Poor mental health
Someone with burnout will constantly feel overwhelmed with just about everything . Simple tasks such as shopping or hobbies that were enjoyable will seem impossible . Burnout is often linked to anxiety and depression too . It can also cause irritability and anger . This means that many people close to someone who is burned out will bear the brunt . It is obviously terrible for any chance of having healthy relationships , both at home and work . Sometimes a person suffering from burnout might realise this and so try to avoid people , which is also unhealthy as it can lead to feelings of isolation .
Negative physical health
Physical symptoms of burnout include headaches , sleep problems , colds , flu , palpitations , stomach problems , breathlessness and dizziness . Anyone suffering from burnout will have an immune system that ’ s not as strong as it should be . As a result they are much more likely to get ill , suffer worse when they do and for much longer . Additionally , a lot of people with burnout eat unhealthily or totally lose their appetite , which clearly also has a negative impact on physical wellbeing .
Utter exhaustion
David Hurst pic : Tone Camara
Complete exhaustion is a major sign of burnout . When burned out , people feel physically , mentally and emotionally exhausted – utterly drained all round . It can make it impossible to concentrate on anything or remember even simple things . This can mean underachieving in every way – at home , work and in sports or hobbies . It can all become a vicious circle , with no sign of a way out .
Impulse to run away
When someone is feeling utterly exhausted with everything and this goes on they can get desperate . If they don ’ t have any idea of how to change how they are feeling and how their life is going , thoughts of escaping can start to dominate . They will strongly feel as if they just have to get away from everything and everyone . Some people do , giving up on all their responsibilities . But unless it is thought through it can merely take their issues to a new location . Others try to escape by drinking excessively , using other drugs or indulging in unhealthy behavioural addictions such as workaholism , food disorders or uncurbed gambling or spending .
If left untreated , burnout is likely to get progressively worse and cause increasing physical and mental health problems . Thankfully , there are solutions to return to a normal state , where life becomes enjoyable once again . This will usually mean talking honestly with someone with expertise in these matters who can suggest what changes to make and look at certain aspects of the person ' s life that might have led to their state of burnout . Then , if anyone makes a few simple changes , burnout can stay away for good .
DAVID HURST
David Hurst is a Wellbeing Coach based on the Costa del Sol with four books published on emotional and mental health recovery , including 12 Steps To 1 Hero and The Anxiety Conversation . To find out more or contact David to discuss how he can help you or someone you care about , visit : davidhurst . com
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