Burnout

Burnout is a special type of stress – and it doesn’t just come from working long hours (although that can certainly contribute over time). Burnout can be caused by a variety of factors including a lack of work/life balance, unclear job expectations, a dysfunctional workplace, a lack of support or poor job fit. Those who work in a helping professional are especially at risk. Common symptoms of burnout include depression, cynicism and lethargy. If left unaddressed, burnout can affect your physical health contributing to numerous ailments including insomnia, high cholesterol and heart disease. But the good news is that burnout does not have to be a permanent condition. Reach out to one of TherapyDen’s burnout experts to start your journey towards recovery!

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It's like your brain has stopped working. You have so much to do, but sometimes it just switches off and you realize you’ve been staring at your computer screen for 20 minutes. You’re constantly exhausted, and can’t understand how everyone else is keeping all these balls in the air! What’s wrong with me? Is it ADHD? Burnout? Maybe just existential dread? You’re not alone; Capitalism is a harsh mistress. I can’t fix the world, but I can help you learn how to cope, and how to recharge your brain!

— Nora Mickowski, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in , TX

Sometimes, burnout can feel like a dark tunnel with no end in sight. But here's the thing - it doesn't have to be this way. With my professional expertise and data-backed strategies, I can help guide you out of this tunnel. Together, we'll explore your stressors, identify coping mechanisms, and develop a personalized plan to restore balance in your life.

— Jennifer Haendel, Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate in Nashville, TN
 

Sacrificing your own needs for others, for too long, can put you on the road to burnout. This is especially prevalent for visionaries, leaders, big-hearted helpers, and social services workers. These roles require self-care and boundaries that can feel selfish and often get neglected. Learn to put parameters around your help, manage vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue, AND stay in alignment with your values to decrease your risk for burnout. Take care of yourself - so you can help others.

— Katie Vernoy, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Torrance, CA

Once we enter adulthood, we are continually preparing for the next stage of life. This leads to a change in values and dip in life satisfaction. Happiness isn't tied to our external circumstances, yet we still find ourselves striving to meet some unmeetable goal. This leads us to be frustrated achievers who feel guilty or experience malaise despite good jobs, good families, and stable income. Acceptance, commitment, and action to change can help us escape the happiness trap.

— Katrina Kuzyszyn-Jones, Psychologist in Durham, NC
 

Coaching and Therapy Program, "From Burnout to Bliss" 6 step program specifically designed to help those in the helping professions, moms, and other caregivers to address their unique needs and create flourishing lives and careers.

— Jessi Frothingham, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Portland, OR

Burnout, like everything else, shows up differently for different people. This can look like irritability, overwhelm, emotional exhaustion, and reduced interest or motivation. Or maybe you’re just tired of the status quo and are ready to shake things up, both in your career and your personal life. If you’ve come to therapy to reduce burnout, we’ll get to know how that looks for you and build on your existing strengths (yes, you have them!) to move through the ‘stuckness’ burnout can bring on.

— Kailey Hockridge, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in Los Angeles, CA
 

Is the last request just too much? Do you find that you have a shorter and shorter fuse, perhaps leading to an unexpected emotional response? Do you find that something that never used to not bother you at all is now pushing you over the edge? These are a few signs of burnout. Setting boundaries with work, family, or friends is just one of the ways we can find a way back to being your happier and productive self.

— Dr. David Shoup, Psychologist in Pacifica, CA

You feel depleted. Your personal life and/or your health is suffering because you work all the time. You may be feeling jaded, cynical or hopeless in regards to your job. You are not doing the kind of work that you are capable of and you may feel like you just want to quit.

— Sabrina Basquez, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Greensboro, NC
 

Burnout - like everything else - shows up differently for different people. This can look like irritability, overwhelm, emotional exhaustion, and reduced interest or motivation. Or maybe you’re just tired of the status quo and are ready to shake things up, both in your career and your personal life. Together we’ll get to know how burnout looks for you and build on your existing strengths (yes, you have them!) to move through the ‘stuckness’ burnout can bring on.Item description

— Kailey Hockridge, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in Los Angeles, CA

Burnout doesn’t even begin to describe what some folks are going through. I suggest that we are not facing a “shortage” of workers, but rather a resistance from people who are able to put up with exploitative systems. We need a reckoning; a reimagining. Let's explore creative next steps to go from exploited to thriving.

— Shin Ock, Psychologist in North Bethesda, MD
 

If you struggle with burnout, you may experience feelings such as exhaustion, detached emotions, hopelessness, and disengagement. Additionally you may feel an emotional toll, depression, and a loss of motivation. These feelings are not normal for you and your tolerance for them is gone.

— Amanda Alberson, Counselor in Westminster, CO

Burnout happens when you've reached a state of complete exhaustion, mentally, emotionally, or physically. It's accompanied by a lack of drive or motivation, and when it's really bad - feelings of depression and hopelessness. Burnout is hard to muscle your way through since the reason it's finally arrived at your doorstep is because you HAVE been muscling your way through. It's just that it isn't working anymore.

— Lauren Timkovich, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Denver, CO
 

Many of my clients through the years have been overworked, overcommitted and felt undervalued at their places of employment. I have successfully helped many men and women in their quest for a more fulfilling career path. I have also addressed caregiver burnout; this is a huge concern as many are taking care of loved ones.

— Michelle May, Counselor in West Bloomfield, MI

Burnout doesn’t even begin to describe what some folks are going through. I suggest that we are not facing a “shortage” of workers, but rather a resistance from people who are able to put up with exploitative systems. We need a reckoning; a reimagining. Let's explore creative next steps to go from exploited to thriving.

— Shin Ock, Psychologist in North Bethesda, MD
 

Burnout is what happens when we have been stressed for too long...what happens when we are emotionally exhausted, when we feel completely depleted of empathy, concern or compassion, and when we feel nothing we do will make any difference. When we dread going into work, then come home and have to check out. It can be lack of motivation, resentment towards out work or work environment, and can look like anxiety. But it's possible to recover from it, and make sure it doesn't happen again.

— Ashley French, Licensed Professional Counselor in Denver, CO

Is your inner critic your worst boss ever? Are you asking yourself what you need to change about yourself in order to get to the place you want? Don't go down the same road that got you here wondering why you are not enjoying your success. What if the answer is to not change yourself, but to embrace and amplify your natural strengths and wisdom to allow the change that works for you?

— Allison Glorioso, Mental Health Counselor in Fort Myers, FL
 

Burnout happens when you've reached a state of complete exhaustion, mentally, emotionally, or physically. It's accompanied by a lack of drive or motivation, and when it's really bad - feelings of depression and hopelessness. Burnout is hard to muscle your way through since the reason it's finally arrived at your doorstep is because you HAVE been muscling your way through. It's just that it isn't working anymore.

— Whitney Russell, Licensed Professional Counselor in Austin, TX

Burnout or compassion fatigue, is an experience you may have in a helping role, either in your professional or personal life, or under constant stress. Some signs may be: Feeling hopeless, detached, burdened Difficulty concentrating Low ability to empathize Withdrawing from activities you love Irritability, frustration Know that it’s okay to ask for help. We can work together to help you find out what needs to change and how you can be nourished and show up in your life the way you want to.

— Christina Hughes, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in SAN FRANCISCO, CA