Burnout is a phenomenon closely related to work. According to psychologist G. Buinickaitė, it is not a disease, but physical, emotional or psychological exhaustion associated with chronic distress, reduced motivation, poorer work results and a negative attitude towards oneself or others.
“The listed states are long-term – not a day or two, not a week, but months or years. It’s a state where I’m constantly physically exhausted, I feel unhappy, sometimes even tearful, it’s hard to concentrate and do everyday things,” the specialist explained.
When we forget ourselves and our family because of work, when we mention our values or beliefs, it is really important to be concerned, because, as G. Buinickaitė stated, burnout that is not noticed in time can have very serious consequences.
“Unfortunately, there are situations where burned-out people decide to take their own lives, so seeking help is essential. When I notice that my behavior has changed and does not stop, when I realize that I can no longer be myself, I feel alone, empty, without meaning, if only thoughts arise that I would like to be gone, the first thing I have to do is to find the last strength and ask for help.” – said the psychologist.
She told where and what kind of help should be sought.
“First of all, to the relatives, because they react the fastest. Then – schedule an appointment with a doctor or psychologist. In those difficult moments, emergency numbers also really help – people there are always willing to listen. It is important to remember that we are not alone. And it’s even better – to write down those help people and phone numbers on a piece of paper and hang them in a visible place”, said G. Buinickaitė.
It is also important to remember that burnout is not a one-day or week-long fatigue, but a long-term state, so just a vacation or a short break from work and worries will not help here, unfortunately.
“Vacation can be the beginning of a person putting together a plan of action: to tackle the problem of over-engagement at work, for my own contribution or for the organization. If we look at it from the perspective of the job demands and resources model, we need to assess whether the workload is really that high or do I really have to work this fast? Is this really a requirement of the organization, or did I set this requirement for myself?”, G. Buinickaitė named questions that are important to answer for yourself.
According to the psychologist, when we burn out, we can get depressed, panic attacks can also arise. In addition, a person may be prone to serious addictions, such as the use of alcohol or other intoxicants. Let’s not forget that taking care of emotional health is no less important, and seeking help from specialists is certainly not shameful.
