The dreaded “Burnout” word is one that is not commonly mentioned in the UK.  If you happen to mention it or express symptoms, you’re often told “chin up”, “dust yourself down” and the more famous “carry on”.  With various celebrities and Prince William and Harry openly talking about Depression, there is still a long way to go.

I am a far cry from being an expert. Yet I will, first of all, hold my hand up and confess that I have suffered it.  The second confession is – it crept up on me over a period of years.  It led to me being hospitalised with severe blood pressure.

Now living in Belgium, I will say it is more recognised and is widely spoken about here.  A dear friend who lives here will say there is still a long way to go for it to be really recognised here.  It is strange how differing countries handle a world wide illness that occurs – UK is definitely a decade or two behind.

Symptoms of Burnout

• Are you not sleeping properly: If you’re having difficulty getting to sleep, or are waking early, it might be because you have too much on your mind
• Making mistakes: Making careless or silly mistakes.  You are not giving yourself enough head space
• Perhaps your feeling short-tempered: Stress can give us a short fuse and can reduce our patience
• Concentration: Stress can put us into fight or flight mode.  A feeling of panic, can leave us unable to maintain focus on one thing for long
• Tearful or emotional: Everything can feel just too much when we are stressed.
• Loss of humour: If life has become serious and austere, and you have lost your sense of fun. Whatever is impacting is doing so on your mental health.
• Feel like you don’t care anymore: Burnout happens when we are stressed. One symptom is a lack of caring about customers, products or patients while at work.
• Dreading feeling: Waking up and feeling anxious about the day ahead. Simply not wanting to get out of bed, are signs that your job may be affecting your mental health

My personal additions

• A personal note – losing the interest to read books.  I was and still am an avid bookworm, yet I did go through a period of not evening wanting to pick up a book
• My attention span was limited, I could not settle ie reading a book or magazine or watching TV

Tips
I still feel that there are some niggles still present. Being under stress or in a stressful situation can re-trigger some of the symptoms above.  What has helped in managing is:

• Exercise
• doing meditation (an article from the GQ magazine)
• breathing exercises
• yoga/qi gong
• learning to say no
• Re-establishing my boundaries and knowing what they are has helped greatly
• Dare I say that sleep and eating well also helps to bring your body and mind into balance

Don’t feel alone.

• There are various organisations who can help within the UK. Wellbeing Association lists a wide range of charities and organisations who you can contact.
• No matter whether we are perfectionists, battlers or not, it is important to let yourself acknowledge, understand and heal
• Seek out and get the help available as this important, don’t feel you are doing it alone.

Feel free to get in touch if you wish to share your “burnout” story.