Understanding Burnout: Symptoms, Causes and Recovery
Burnout is a result of prolonged exposure to ever increasing stress with no ability to interrupt the event. This response marked by physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion. It is frequently the result of high levels of work-related stress, particularly in settings where people feel overwhelmed, unsupported, or devalued.
We see this often for folks working in the helping professions...
- Healthcare: Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy and Ancillary services
- Mental Health: Psychiatry, Psychology, Therapy, SUD
- Education: Teachers, Teachers Aides, Classroom staff
- First Responders: Fire, Paramedics, Law Enforcement
- Attorneys: Criminal Legal, Family Law
This list is by no means exhaustive. Burnout can happen for any human who feels that they cannot stop their current level of effort and also cannot sustain the level of effort being asked of them.
Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Signs of Burnout
Physical Signs of Burnout
Physical signs of burnout include fatigue, insomnia, headaches, and gastrointestinal disorders. Even after getting enough rest, you may still feel tired, weary or lethargic. Chronic stress can weaken your immune system, leaving you more vulnerable to infections and disorders. Unexplained muscle tightness, aches, and pains are all common symptoms. These are often physical indications of extended stress and strain.
Mental Symptoms of Burnout
Mentally, burnout is characterized by emotions of cynicism, alienation, and ineffectiveness. This may be more noticeable in your professional career than in your personal life. You may have become more negative or cynical about your job, coworkers, or your workplace as a whole. You may also feel that you aren't accomplishing anything of value. This perceived lack of accomplishment or satisfaction can lead to disillusionment or apathy. Burnout impairs cognitive performance, making it difficult to concentrate, remember, or make decisions.
The Emotional Impact of Burnout
Emotionally, burnout can result in mood disorders including depression, anxiety, or irritability. People may feel emotionally exhausted or depleted, or they may suffer emotional numbness or detachment. Humans differ in their level of need for an active social life, however, if you notice a recent change or the urge to stay isolated and withdrawn, this may be an indication of burnout. Another indication may be that you've lost interest in the activities, hobbies and interests that you previously enjoyed.
Behavioural Signs of Burnout
Behaviorally, burnout might show itself as altered work behaviors, like higher absenteeism, lower productivity, or avoiding chores linked to the job. To deal with the stress and mental upheaval brought on by burnout, you may seek escapist activities like binge drinking or substance use. A manifestation of burnout is the loss of ability to balance work and professional responsibilities and to take the requisite time for self-care. This is particularly true of individuals who do not realize that they are burnt out and continue to perceive the problems they face as external, rather than seeking help to resolve the issue and to take time for self-care and recovery.
Treatment Options for Burnout
There are various interventions available to assist sufferers in overcoming this crippling stress-related disorder – from mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and nutritional supplementation to non-traditional treatments such as ketamine therapy.
- Ketamine Therapy as a Non-Traditional Option: Ketamine infusion therapy has demonstrated the potential to quickly reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts in those with mood disorders that are resistant to conventional treatment. It's also important to remember that people who experience burnout may also have comorbid disorders like anxiety and depression, which can either cause or contribute to burnout. Ketamine infusion therapy has been studied for its medical benefits in mental health and pain disorders for over twenty-five years. Research into the extent of its effectiveness for burnout sufferers is still ongoing but it shows great promise for treatment-resistant conditions.
- Nutritional Supplementation: Omega-3 fatty acids & B-Complex: Fish oil and algal oil supplements, for example, may have the ability to stabilize moods and lessen the signs of anxiety and despair that come with burnout. In particular, B6, B12, and folate are important for energy metabolism and the synthesis of neurotransmitters. B-complex vitamin supplements may increase energy levels and elevate mood. An increased incidence of depression and mood disorders has been linked to low vitamin D levels. Supplementation is important for people who don't get enough sun exposure or who have low vitamin D levels.
- Mindfulness: Individuals can develop present-moment awareness, lessen rumination, and increase their resilience to stress by doing mindfulness practices like mindfulness meditation or Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). Mindfulness promotes overall well-being and is an accessible tool in combating excessive and prolonged stress. It offers a way to regulate stress, respond more thoughtfully and calmly, improve emotional resilience, enhance concentration and focus, reduce physical symptoms, and improve sleep.
- Cognitive-behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT helps people recognize and change their negative thought patterns, create stress-reduction coping mechanisms, and establish reasonable goals for work-life balance.
- Group Therapy: Individual or group therapy sessions can offer a secure setting where people can communicate their emotions, obtain new insights into their experiences, learn from others’ experiences, and receive encouragement and support from those going through comparable difficulties.
- Lifestyle Changes: Small, positive changes across a range of mediums can enhance the benefits of more targeted therapies. Deep breathing exercise, yoga, enjoyable exercise and physical activity, excellent nutrition and a focus on good sleep hygiene can support general health and well-being and help to rebalance the mind, body, and emotions in people who are suffering with chronic stress.
Overcoming Burnout with Ketamine Infusion Therapy
Ketamine infusion therapy, known for its rapid antidepressant and antianxiety effects, may help ease a variety of burnout symptoms, particularly those related to emotional and cognitive impairment.
At Modern Mindwork, we understand that burnout affects not just your work but your overall well-being. That is why we offer specialized integrative coaching, ketamine infusion therapy and ketamine-assisted therapy, among other supports. They are designed to help you regain your vitality, mental clarity, and balance.
- Ketamine Infusion Therapy delivers low doses of ketamine intravenously, which can rapidly alleviate symptoms of burnout such as fatigue, emotional exhaustion, and cognitive impairment.
- Ketamine-assisted Therapy combines ketamine with psychotherapy to provide a full treatment. This dual treatment strategy targets not just the neurological aspects of burnout, but also its emotional and psychological components.
The Benefits of Ketamine therapy for Burnout
- Alleviates Emotional Symptoms: Quickly reduces feelings of cynicism, detachment, helplessness, and defeat, enhancing mood and motivation. It improves overall mood to combat negative outlooks and restore enjoyment.
- Addresses Physical Symptoms: Reduces chronic fatigue and alleviates somatic symptoms like headaches and muscle pain through its analgesic properties.
- Enhances Cognitive Functions: Improves focus, restores cognitive function, and boosts decision-making abilities by reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety.
- Increases Productivity: Enhances emotional and cognitive functions, making it easier to engage in work and restore performance.
It is crucial to emphasize that, while ketamine may alleviate these symptoms of burnout, it is typically used as part of a multifaceted therapy strategy that includes psychological support, lifestyle adjustments, and selective medical interventions.
Treatment Process
At Modern Mindwork, we start with a thorough evaluation to see if ketamine therapy is right for you. We customize dosing and scheduling, based on your individual burnout issues and we continually monitor and adjust your treatment to ensure the best outcomes.
Contact Us Today
Modern Mindwork offers individualized, safe and effective therapies. We provide personalized care and support, empowering you to regain control over your life and achieve lasting well-being through the transformative benefits of ketamine infusion therapy, integrative therapies and multifaceted support.
Take the first step towards healing today.