What Does Burnout Actually Feel Like?

Everybody talks about burnout. Have you heard about it? Do you know what it is? Do you wonder if you might be experiencing burnout, but you don’t know how to make sure? That’s okay. You can find out.

Burnout happens when you’re constantly under stress that you can’t manage. That much stress takes a heavy toll on you. It makes you feel terrible in a variety of ways.

Do you feel overwhelmed nearly every day because of all the responsibilities you have? That’s a common sign of burnout, but it’s a little more complicated than that. It can deeply affect every single aspect of your life, which is why it’s so important to identify.

Exhaustion

A big sign of burnout is an intense feeling of exhaustion. You wake up every day with fatigue and move through your day with it; it doesn’t really go away. This means you’re so tired you have no motivation to do anything. It’s the kind of feeling that weighs on you and affects every aspect of your life.

Fatigue and lack of motivation mean you procrastinate more often. It means that, whatever work you do, it won’t be the best of your ability. You will also be slower, you won’t be able to do tasks as quickly as you used to. Burnout can truly affect you in every way.

Depression

Low mood is a usual sign of burnout. Constant stress is enough to bring on an intense sense of self-doubt, maybe even failure. It comes with helplessness and worthlessness. You become more pessimistic, and you may have outbursts you didn’t use to have before.

And really, how could you not? Constant stress does that to a person. It erases their confidence and their self-esteem. The longer this goes on, the lower your mood will be. Especially if you have to keep going — if you don’t deal with your burnout.

Isolation

Isolation is another big sign of burnout. You don’t have any energy or motivation, so why bother meeting with people? You feel so detached from the world around you, so alone, and you have no energy to go out and meet with others. And it’s understandable. It takes a lot of energy to keep you going despite your burnout.

But as a result of that, you withdraw from others, you isolate yourself. You tell your friends and family you’ll meet with them later, you’re too tired. And that’s how it goes. You keep putting off meetings until you’re alone and isolated. Not because you want to be, but because you’re too burned out to meet with the people you care about.

Health Issues

Burnout doesn’t just have mental symptoms. It brings on a variety of physical health issues too. Headaches and stomachaches are unfortunately common. So are sleep issues. If you find yourself struggling to fall asleep or sleep through the night, burnout may be to blame.

High levels of stress over long periods of time can also affect your immune system. You may notice yourself getting sick more often than usual. That’s how pervasive burnout can be.

Getting Help

If you think you might be struggling with burnout, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. Anxiety counseling may be a good first step to help you deal with all the stress you’ve accumulated. There’s nothing wrong with seeking professional help when you need it. In fact, it can benefit you more than you know. So, don’t be afraid to set up an appointment.

Burnout is pervasive, but you can overcome it. You just need to be kind to yourself and let yourself get the help you need. It’s not an easy thing to do, but it’s worth it.