If constant stress has you feeling helpless, disillusioned, and completely exhausted, you may be on the road to burnout. Learn how it is caused and the difference between burnout and stress.
2. Are you feeling emotionally, physically, and mentally
drained? Does nothing you do seem to help the feelings go
away? It's possible that what you are experiencing is a
condition known as burnout.
3. What Causes Burnout?
According to Psychology Today, the condition of burnout is
far more than simply being overworked. Rather, it is a
result of working long hours combined with feelings of
cynicism and depression. These negative feelings usually
result when an individual is in a job where they feel they
are out of control of the situation. Either that, or it places
them in situations where they may be asked to complete
tasks that go against their worldview.
4. People can also feel burned out due to working towards a
goal that they don't agree with. Or if they feel they lack
support as they work towards a specific goal.
5. How Do You Know If You Are Burned Out?
If you drive or walk to work every day with a sense of
dread, this is a sure sign of burnout. If you feel cynicism,
anger, or irritability towards your job or others, this is
another sign you may be becoming burned out. You will
often notice you are burned out when feelings of
depression, dissatisfaction, and cynicism don't go away for
an extended period. You may also begin to have other
physical or mental health problems such as headaches,
fatigue, heartburn, and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
6. Burnout vs. Stress
It's important to differentiate between regular stress
having to do with work and the state of being burned out.
Stress is usually temporary and easily remedied. Burnout is
a long-lasting condition that may need the help of a
professional to treat.
7. Stress is usually short-lived or tied to a specific goal. And
when that goal is accomplished, the stress usually goes
away. On the other hand, burnout is an extended period of
stress accompanied by emotional changes. Regular stress,
on its own, is not harmful. Burnout is damaging to both the
individual who feels the burnout and those involved in that
individual's life.
8. Overall, burnout is a very dangerous period of extended
stress or dissatisfaction with your job or home life. And if
left untreated, burnout can lead to a host of other
problems in your life. This is why you should learn to
recognize the early signs of burnout and make changes in
your life before it's too late.
