Burnout – More Symptoms
5 Stages of burnout – “Burnout is not an event, it is a process.” Most people don’t recognize the seriousness of their condition until they reach level 2 breakdown.
Early warning signs
You sense that some of your expectations were unrealistic
There’s more to do than time to do it
You work longer hours, give up exercise and save all relaxation for the weekend
You still try new ways to solve problems
You share your feelings with family and friends but they shrug off your concern
Self-talk “Stay positive. This will get easier.”
- Disenchantment
You know you’re under a lot of stress, but so is everyone else…so you keep on going
Your energy level is lower
You have days of frustration, boredom, and confusion.
Kids and husband and friends seem very demanding and insensitive to your needs.
You are working harder to meet goals, with less satisfaction
Self-confidence is shrinking
You are irritable with spouse, kids, and friends
You know you are stressed, but procrastinate stress management techniques
Self-talk “Hang on until the weekend…I’ll be able to sleep then.”
- Brownout
You have stopped taking care of your needs for relaxation, adequate rest, and good nutrition
You feel rushed, worried, impatient, indecisive
You are very aware of your fatigue, lower energy and negative feelings about work
Sleep is often disturbed, eating patterns change
You occasionally binge to feel better – on food, alcohol, shopping, etc…
Homeschooling seems to dominate your life
Self-talk “I need a vacation, but there’s too much work to do.”
- Burn-out
You are often angry and cynical
You feel detached and withdrawn from work
You have frequent physical illnesses
Your handwriting deteriorates
You experience chronic fatigue, irritability and mood swings
You feel there is no support
You perceive everyone as too demanding
Self-talk ”I wish everyone would just leave me alone.”
- Despair
Tremendous sense of failure, self-doubt
Very low self-esteem
A feeling of No Self – “Who am I?”
Loneliness
Self-criticism
You feel incompetent, helpless, trapped, discouraged
No satisfaction from work or life itself
Poor physical health
A feeling of “I can’t cope.”
Self-talk “I want to run away from everyone and everything.”
Burn-out will not go away on its own. You must do something to interrupt the cycle