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What is burnout?

‘Suffering from burnout’ is a commonly used phrase – especially among top executives and people in high-pressure jobs, such as lawyers, investors, business owners and medical practitioners.

Also referred to as Serious-Stress Syndrome, burnout is a state of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion, typically caused by prolonged workplace stress.

It is classified as an anxiety disorder, caused by the body’s response to long-term, unresolved stress. It is a cumulative condition in which stress builds slowly over time, leaving a person feeling exhausted and emotionally drained.

People experiencing burnout symptoms are usually trying to live up to impossible standards and expectations from other people and themselves. Working excessive hours and not taking time to care for themselves properly – month after month – stress levels will build up. The relentless, ongoing pressure typically comes from various sources, including work, financial problems, underlying health issues, family and challenging relationships.

Our minds and bodies are not designed to deal with prolonged, high-intensity stress and gradually become so overwhelmed that they eventually shut down altogether.

There are three key characteristics of burnout:

  • exhaustion (loss of energy)
  • cynicism (loss of enthusiasm)
  • loss of confidence/self-belief (resulting in a reduced capacity to function).

Burnout can happen to anyone – but the condition mainly affects people in high-pressure positions such as entrepreneurs, CEOs and high-level business executives.

What causes burnout?

Burnout doesn’t just happen overnight. It is a gradual build up of continual stress and persistent pressure and can affect anyone at any time.

People experiencing burnout rarely spot the signs and symptoms until the stress becomes intolerable, or a friend, family member or co-worker expresses concern.

The main cause of burnout is the body’s inability to tolerate high-stress levels over prolonged periods, both mentally and physically. However, it can be challenging for mental health professionals, doctors, and those experiencing burnout to understand where the symptoms of exhaustion and depleted energy levels originated.

Various studies have shown a correlation between external and internal factors that influence the probability of burnout occurring, including:

Existing health conditions

Burnout can occur in individuals who have pre-existing health issues (physical or mental), which can affect their ability to cope with persistent, stressful situations. 

The symptoms of chronic stress or burnout can often be concealing other serious health issues that need attention, which can in turn make the symptoms of burnout even worse. 

Substance abuse

Those experiencing burnout and chronic stress usually require some form of stimulation to get them through the day. Emotional exhaustion is one of the main symptoms of burnout, and high performers often begin self-medicating to help them continue performing at an optimum level.

This creates a double-edged sword, as using alcohol or drugs is an unsustainable coping strategy. It may appear to work for a short time, but these coping mechanisms develop into a cycle of substance abuse in the long-term.

Substance abuse places considerable added physical stress on an already-stressed body, which not only adds to the pressure experienced by those suffering from burnout but also potentially creates (or intensifies) mental health disorders.

Lifestyle

When people are in a prolonged state of stress – as is the case for those who experience burnout – it is usually a challenge to make the right lifestyle choices. When we feel emotionally exhausted, our self-care is typically neglected, and we experience a negative shift in our health and wellbeing.

Putting work commitments first and not taking time out for socialising, relaxing and taking care of ourselves significantly impacts burnout. Taking on too many responsibilities, lacking supportive relationships or regularly partying hard outside work are also significant factors.

Attitude to stress

Clinical research shows that cultural and social restrictions can lead to thoughts, feelings and behaviours that heighten a person’s stress levels. For example, in many workplaces it can be considered ‘normal’ to work 80+ hours a week, work through weekends and appear to be resilient to sustained pressure. Over time, this type of attitude will inevitably be a contributing factor to burnout.

What are the stages of burnout?

Burnout symptoms are gradual and emerge in stages, which people move through at different rates depending on their individual circumstances. As they progress through the stages, the mental, physical and emotional symptoms become more severe.

Mental health professionals have identified five steps, which are:

  1. The honeymoon 
  2. Onset of stress
  3. Chronic stress
  4. Burnout
  5. Habitual burnout.

Even if they are only in the early stages, people at risk of burnout can benefit from understanding the early warning signs by reading relevant content and health information about chronic stress and how it impacts all areas of a person’s life.

What are the common symptoms of burnout?

Some of the symptoms associated with chronic stress and burnout include:

  • Feeling disconnected from work-related tasks and activities
  • Reduced job performance
  • Physical symptoms, such as stomach aches, intestinal problems and recurring headaches 
  • Emotional exhaustion – such as experiencing tiredness, a lack of energy, and an inability to focus and complete tasks
  • Depression and anxiety.

Studies also show that physical illnesses, such as heart disease, are related to chronic stress and burnout.

By far the wisest course of action is to learn to identify the early signs of burnout and prevent it taking over your life in the first place.

How can burnout be prevented?

Since chronic stress symptoms unfold gradually, the body’s alarm signal for stress will be going off – day in and day out – for a long period of time. This alarm is only supposed to go off for brief periods to alert us to real danger and trigger the ‘fight, flight or freeze’ reaction. It sets off processes that are actually harmful to our bodies in persistent doses. The more the stress response is ‘on’, the more damage it causes to our internal resources and the more it depletes the system.

It is vital that individuals regularly acknowledge and assess how they are doing and learn to recognise the warning signs their body is sending.

It is also important to undo any damage already caused, by seeking support and developing healthier habits, especially around food, exercise, sleep and proper rest.

It is possible to learn to manage stress and foster resilience through a combination of the following:

  • Prioritising – actively choosing to focus on what we need and value, personally and professionally.
  • Cultivating insight and practising mindfulness techniques, such as conscious awareness.
  • Improving self-care, which includes a healthy diet, daily exercise, healthier sleep patterns, resting, spending time with friends, speaking to a therapist/psychologist, and talking about mental health concerns with a family member or trusted co-worker.
  • Monitoring our thoughts, emotions and inner dialogue and practising positive thinking techniques.
  • Getting the right support from colleagues, friends, family members and the wider community.

Viewing burnout as something that people are responsible for preventing themselves can be detrimental, particularly for those already under immense stress. It can add further pressure to an already-full load. Typically, individuals need professional help and support to learn the skills needed to prevent burnout and tackle any underlying, associated issues.

What treatment options are available for burnout?

To prevent the mental, physical and emotional health problems that burnout can cause, it is vital to seek professional help as soon as possible.

There are many treatment options available for those experiencing burnout, including:

  • Wellness programs
  • Family programs
  • Individual treatment plans
  • Mindfulness programs.

Whichever program or treatment option you choose, getting help and support as soon as you start to experience the symptoms of burnout will prevent any further mental, physical or emotional damage, and set you on the right path to recovery.

Burnout treatment at Centres for Health and Healing

When you choose to make changes that will significantly improve your life, you need people who fully understand the problem and have the experience to support you through the processes. You need to feel safe and protected to deeply reconnect with yourself and focus on your recovery.

At Centres for Health and Healing, we offer highly individualised treatment programs and advanced therapy programs – tailored for people seeking immediate recovery from burnout.

We believe that everyone is different, and therefore each person’s needs will be different.

All our programs are delivered in first-class, luxury facilities with onsite chefs and private and secure surroundings, allowing you to fully recover and reintegrate.

We help you explore your emotional, physical, psychological and spiritual needs and personalise our approach to help you discover renewed energy and balance. Programs include:

  • Building self-esteem and confidence to make better life choices
  • Learning necessary skills, such as understanding your triggers and stress management
  • Restoring balance to your mind, body and soul
  • Learning and adopting healthier coping mechanisms for the future
  • Increasing focus, concentration and energy levels
  • Cultivating better lifestyle choices, such as sleep patterns, eating a balanced diet and exercising
  • Recovering and reinventing your life.

We also run group therapy sessions with 5–10 clients throughout the day, giving you an opportunity to connect and work together with others. With the right level of empathy and support, group therapy cultivates self-awareness and offers valuable insights through shared experiences and a willingness to be open with other group members.

Admitting you have a problem and choosing to get professional help is the first step to building a much improved and more fulfilling life.

Please contact one of our specialists today to find out how we can begin to help you.

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