Dr Dulcy explores the burnout phenomenon
IF YOU HAVE IT, YOU NEED TO RECOGNISE THIS FACT AND GET HELP
Our stressful lives and ideals have created a dangerous psychological malaise.
Burnout seems to have become a mass phenomenon, and people are starting to talk more about it. Absenteeism rates have increased due to burnout. It is still not clearly defined as an illness and difficult thus to differentiate from depression.
In the ’70s the term “burnout” was used to describe the consequences of severe stress and high ideals in the “helping” professions. Doctors and nurses, for example, who sacrifice themselves for others, would often end up exhausted, listless, and unable to cope.
Nowadays, the term is not only used for these helping professions, or for the dark side of self-sacrifice. It seems it can affect anyone, from stressed-out careerists and celebrities, to overworked employees and homemakers – because there is no clear definition of what burnout really is.
As a result, it’s not clear exactly how it can be diagnosed. This makes it difficult to say how common the phenomenon is.
Sometimes your job can simply affect your health and happiness. Job burnout is a state of physical, emotional or mental exhaustion, combined with doubts about your competence and work value.
If you think you might be experiencing job burnout, you need to recognise that there is a problem and take action before it affects your health.
Consult your doctor or a mental health provider to identify or rule out any underlying health conditions.
A stressful lifestyle can put people under extreme pressure, to the point that they feel exhausted and empty.
Stress at work can also cause physical and mental symptoms. Possible causes include feeling either permanently overworked or under-challenged, being under time pressure, or having conflicts with colleagues. Extreme commitment that results in neglecting own needs may be at the root.
Here is a quote: “The average person may spend up to 50 years working to generate income. That’s a long time to dedicate oneself in an environment that may be killing your soul” (Khulukazi Fungiwe Dlakavu).