Three myths about burnout
Myth 1: One day you wake up and you experience burnout. No, burnout does not happen over night. Someone who has had a tough day at work, or spent the entire day in the garden does not experience burnout after one day. Being in a state of burnout, is a consequence of stress that has become chronic and has been accumulating over a long period of time, months or years. It is characterised by emotional exhaustion, a reduced sense of accomplishment, and depersonalisation. It is thus more profound than regular stress and necessitates specific support in order to recover.
Burnout exhaustion
Myth 2: Only high-achievers or people in their 50s experience burnout. On the contrary, burnout can affect anyone, young or old, in various professions and at different career levels. Burnout does not need to be work oriented, it can happen to caregivers, new moms, students, children, and professional athletes. Burnout is a consequence of chronic stress, lack of support, and continuous pressure. It also does not mean the person is weak, lazy, inadequate, or not resilient.
Myth 3: Just sleep it off during the weekend. Unfortunately, burnout cannot be cured or slept on over the weekend. Burnout goes deeper than just fatigue, feeling tired and stressed, it is a state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion. It’s a state of exhaustion on a cellular level, impacting our nervous system and leaving us in a state of shutdown. It’s a state in which the body cannot cope with the day-to-day stress anymore, and needs to pull the emergency break. From a nervous system perspective, our body shuts down to protect us, and enable us to survive. It’s a state in which all areas of your existence need to be replenished and nurtured, the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual.
By debunking some of these myths about burnout, I hope that you gained more insight and clarity on the topic. Are you experiencing burnout? Do you feel hopeless and don’t know where to find help?
Don’t suffer in silence, feel free to reach out for more support and guidance towards better health, and learn the right tools to manage stress and overwhelm.