It’s summer, the weather is (mostly) beautiful, but you’re too tired or stressed out to enjoy it. Sound familiar? Fatigue that is unremitting, mood swings or depressed/anxious mood, changes in appetite, and feelings of detachment can all be signs that you are working too hard, and on the pathway to burnout. Other symptoms can include memory and concentration impairment, dizziness, frequent illnesses (or an illness that persists), palpitations, headaches, chest pain, gastrointestinal distress, labile/angry mood, and lack of productivity/motivation. If you have the above symptoms, it is important to get checked out by your medical provider, but you may also need to reconsider whether or not you are overburdened by demands of work and home.
Why does this matter? Long term stress and burnout (which is now recognized as a medical condition) can put you at risk of increased health problems, such as obesity or malnutrition, anxiety, depression, heart disease, chronic insomnia, and digestive problems, to name a few! Burnout is not just due to working too hard or too many hours. It can happen when the demands of your job/day overwhelm your body’s capacity to handle stress.

Why does this happen? When your body initially encounters a stressful event, your senses send signals to a part of your brain called the amygdala, which plays a role in processing of memory, emotions, and decision making. A condition called “amygdala hijack” can occur in times of increased stress, where your amygdala is constantly activated rather than calmed by your prefrontal cortex, causing a cascade of biochemical triggers that lead to the release of stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline (fight or flight response). Instead of your body regulating its response to stress, it learns to exist in a hyper stressful state, putting your overall health at risk. In studies, individuals who identified as burned out were noted to have enlarged amygdalae, demonstrating that chronic stress leaves a mark on your brain and can restructure how you cognitively function.

Can this be reversed? Early evidence suggests yes, but the best treatment is always prevention. Make sure you try to take time out for yourself whenever possible- whether it is healthy habits such as yoga, cardiovascular exercise, meditation, and eating fresh fruits/vegetables. If you cannot reduce your work hours, mitigating your stress at work and concentrating on the parts of your job that bring you pleasure (or looking for a new job) can be helpful. Speaking to a therapist, or to a career coach can also be ways you take time out for yourself and recharge. Aiming for a regular routine or sleep pattern nightly can be helpful, and exercise/meditation/decreased caffeine intake can support this as well.

We look forward to supporting you on your journey to health, and encourage you to talk to your provider more at your next visit about ways to reduce burnout.