1in5 campaign
The 1in5 campaign focuses on normalizing the need for mental health resources and removing barriers for those who want to access care. Starting the conversation regarding these significant yet treatable issues also opens the door to providing support.
As we move through the month and focus on various mental health concerns, this week, we examine burnout. Read on to understand the signs and causes of burnout.
Recognizing burnout
Sometimes, stress is beneficial. In small doses, it can help you perform under pressure and motivate you to do your best. But when life’s challenges have you constantly functioning in fight or flight mode, your mind and body may struggle with the added strain, leading to burnout.
Long-term, unresolved stress can impact your overall enjoyment, interest in hobbies and productivity at work and home. While stress is a temporary reaction to outside situations, burnout might cause you to experience long-term effects such as:
- Feeling unusually pessimistic
- Missing regular activities
- Detaching from personal relationships
- Experiencing depleted energy levels
- Increased physical illness
- Feeling increased levels of:
- Exhaustion
- Isolation
- Irritability
- Depression
If you feel stressed often, this could be a precursor to burnout.
Pursuing work-life harmony and caring for your wellbeing is an important first step toward preventing burnout. Granting yourself permission to focus your best efforts on a few things rather than all things is a great place to start. However, when stress becomes too much to handle on your own, it might be time to seek professional help.
Help is available
As always, your EAP is available 24/7/365 to provide advocacy and resources to support various mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety, stress, work-related pressures, relationship issues or substance use. Call 888-881-5462 or visit https://psh.mysupportportal.com.
Source: SupportLinc EAP; National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).