Burnout is something many people experience, but it can be surprisingly difficult to recognise.
You might feel exhausted, overwhelmed, irritable or unable to concentrate. Perhaps you keep telling yourself, “I just need to get through this busy period.”
But when stress continues for too long without enough opportunity for recovery, your mind and body can start telling you that something needs to change.
What is burnout?
Burnout isn't simply being tired after a busy week.
It can develop when prolonged stress leaves you feeling physically and emotionally drained, with very little left in your energy reserves.
It can affect anyone and doesn't necessarily come from one major problem. Sometimes it is the accumulation of everyday pressures such as:
Work demands
Caring responsibilities
Financial worries
Poor sleep
Constantly being available to others
Trying to keep everyone happy
Never feeling able to properly switch off
Putting your own needs last
Eventually, you may feel as though you are running on empty.
What are the signs of burnout?
Burnout can look different for everyone, but common signs include:
Constant exhaustion
You may wake up tired and feel as though you never quite catch up.
Feeling overwhelmed
Everyday tasks can suddenly feel much harder than they normally would.
Difficulty concentrating
You may forget things, struggle to make decisions or feel mentally scattered.
Irritability
Your patience may become shorter and small things can feel much more frustrating.
Feeling emotionally flat
You might feel detached or find that things you normally enjoy no longer bring much pleasure.
Losing motivation
Even simple tasks can start to feel like an effort.
Difficulty switching off
Your body may be exhausted while your mind continues racing.
Why is burnout difficult to recover from?
When you've been under prolonged pressure, your brain can become accustomed to being on high alert.
You may become very good at anticipating problems, thinking ahead and working out what needs to be done next.
The difficulty is that your brain doesn't always know when it's safe to switch off.
This can create a cycle:
Stress → overthinking → poor sleep → exhaustion → reduced resilience → more stress
Breaking this cycle often requires more than simply telling yourself to relax.
How can solution-focused hypnotherapy help?
Solution-focused hypnotherapy can be helpful for people experiencing stress, overthinking and overwhelm.
Rather than focusing entirely on what's gone wrong, solution-focused work encourages you to consider where you would like to get to and what small changes could help you move towards it.
Hypnotherapy can also provide an opportunity to practise deep relaxation and develop a different relationship with thoughts, stress and everyday pressures.
It isn't about pretending stressful situations don't exist. It's about developing the resources and coping strategies to respond to them differently.
You don't have to wait until you burn out
You don't have to wait until you burn out
One of the most useful things we can learn from burnout is that we don't have to reach breaking point before we start listening to ourselves.
Notice the early warning signs.
Are you constantly tired?
Are you struggling to switch off?
Are you saying yes when you really want to say no?
Are you finding it difficult to enjoy things?
These may be signs that your mind and body need more recovery.
Small changes count.
If you're experiencing ongoing exhaustion, low mood or symptoms that are affecting your everyday life, speak to your GP or an appropriate healthcare professional.
If you'd like support with stress, overthinking, sleep or burnout, solution-focused hypnotherapy may be something worth exploring.
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