April is National Stress Awareness Month

 

April is recognized as National Stress Awareness Month to bring attention to the negative impact of stress. Managing stress is an essential component of Mental Health.

As of this writing, burnout is not listed as a diagnosis in DSM-5. That said, Burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by prolonged and excessive stress, so we must understand that burnout is much more complicated than ordinary fatigue. 

Being burned out is feeling empty, mentally exhausted, lacking motivation, with no resources left to draw on. People experiencing burnout often cannot see a way to change their situation. If not addressed and treated, burnout can lead to a full on mental health crisis. 

Psychologists Herbert Freudenberger and Gail North have outlined the phases of this stress syndrome:

• Excessive Drive/Ambition

Too much ambition can lead to burnout. Ambition pushes a person to work harder.
Neglecting Needs
Begin to sacrifice self-care like sleep, exercise, and eating well.

• Displacement Of Conflict

Blaming the boss, the demands of the job, or colleagues for personal troubles.
No Time For Non-Work-Related Needs
Begin to withdraw from family and friends.

• Denial

Impatience with other, seeing them as incompetent, lazy, or overbearing.

• Withdrawal

Further pulling away from family and friends. Social invitations to parties, movies, and dinner dates start to feel burdensome.

• Behavioral Changes

Those on the road to burnout may become more aggressive and snap at loved ones for no reason.

• Depersonalization

Feeling detached from life and ability to it.
Inner Emptiness Or Anxiety
Potential to turn to thrill seeking behaviors to cope with empty feelings. Potential for substance use, gambling, or over eating.

• Depression

Life loses its meaning. Extreme hopelessness.
Mental Or Physical Collapse
Mental health or medical attention may be necessary.

 Ask yourself these four questions to determine if you are suffering from burnout.

1.      How often are you tired and lacking energy to go to work in the morning?

2.      How often do you feel physically drained, like your batteries are dead?

3.      How often is your thinking process sluggish or your concentration impaired?

4.      How often do you feel emotionally detached from co-workers (or customers) and unable to be sensitive to their needs?

There is a significant association between PTSD and burnout, particularly the depressive component. While burnout is not currently recognized by the DSM-5, it is a serious condition that makes a person less resilient to handling additional stressors or traumas.

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I want to share great resources and ideas with you. This video by Sharon Horesh Bergquist, How stress affects your body, is short, fun, comprehensive, and really well done - oh, and it's less than five minutes long! I encourage you to check this out; I know I will be sharing this with all my clients going forward: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-t1Z5-oPtU

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“If you believe change is possible, you want to change, and you are willing to do the work, you absolutely CAN get your life back.”

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