Avoiding Burnout What is burnout?
It is a group of mental,
Physical,
And emotional exhaustion reactions.
Burnout is a result of repeated and or constant emotional arousal that is associated with an intense involvement with other people over a long period of time.
The intensity,
Duration,
Frequency,
And consequences of burnout vary,
But the experience always has three basic components.
They are mental,
Physical,
And emotional exhaustion.
Let's discuss each one.
First is mental exhaustion.
This is characterized by negative attitudes toward life,
Work,
And oneself.
Those experiencing burnout often feel inadequate,
Inferior,
And incompetent.
Statements such as,
I feel like a failure,
I can't handle my job,
And I can't do with anything anymore,
Are common.
Dissatisfaction with work leads to arriving late,
Leaving early,
Or just not showing up.
A person going through burnout tends to develop an I don't care anymore attitude.
This negativism can also spread to having a negative attitude about others,
A cynical attitude,
And a tendency toward inflexibility.
Next is physical exhaustion.
This is characterized by weariness,
Low energy,
Weakness,
And chronic fatigue.
Physical manifestations of burnout include accident proneness,
Frequent headaches,
Increased susceptibility to illness,
Pain,
Muscle tension in neck and shoulders,
And changes in weight and eating habits.
Burnout tends to result in frequent colds and viral infections.
There also tends to be a combination of weariness and sleep problems.
This individual is tired all day,
Yet sleep eludes them because of tormenting thoughts or nightmares.
And the nightmares are often related to the issues involved in the burnout.
Dealing with burnout by chemical means is common.
Overeating is also a way of coping.
Of course,
These strategies provide only temporary relief.
They leave you feeling even more weary and desperate.
Third is emotional exhaustion.
This includes feelings of helplessness,
Depression,
And hopelessness that can lead to emotional breakdown or attempted suicide.
It causes uncontrollable crying or the loss of coping and control mechanisms.
Those experiencing burnout feel that they need all of the very little emotional energy they have to get through each day.
They feel nervous,
Irritable,
And emotionally depleted.
Family and friends,
Instead of being a source of nourishment,
Become just one more demand.
With increased despair and futility come strong feelings of hopelessness and helplessness.
The result is discouragement and loneliness.
Becoming aware of the characteristics of burnout will help you identify the problem and allow you to start working toward coping with it.
This is particularly important for the individual who is in the process of making habit and attitude changes regarding food.
If you are experiencing burnout,
Be aware of the tendency to use food to reclaim your lost energy.
A typical example is arriving home from a job you no longer feel you are capable of handling,
Dealing with people you would rather not have to,
And feeling completely exhausted.
All you believe you have the energy to do is sit in front of the television and eat.
If burnout is a priority issue in your life,
Perhaps working on maintenance rather than weight loss is a better choice.
It is difficult to feel competent to make long-term changes when you feel overwhelmed.
Don't stop working on changes,
Just focus on achieving a positive sense of control when it comes to food.
While working on making food habit and attitude changes,
Be careful not to get burned out.
Take everything slowly,
Working on one issue at a time.
You will achieve your goals more efficiently if you work at a comfortable pace.
Don't make weight management an emotionally exhausting experience.
If you find yourself feeling this way,
Slow down.
Stop for a while if you have to.
You need high morale,
A positive attitude,
Persistence,
Self-confidence,
Energy and good self-esteem to achieve permanent weight management.
Burnout will not get you there.
