Feeling burnt out? You are not alone.
Are you feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and unable to cope with the demands of your daily tasks? If so, you are not alone. According to the latest Microsoft Work Trend Index, 62% of Australian workers are experiencing burnout, which is higher than the global average of 48%.
Burnout is a common condition that affects many people in different walks of life, including new parents, carers, managers, teachers, and health professionals. Despite the fact that many occupations involve a substantial level of stress, the COVID-19 pandemic has introduced a prolonged period of strain to the lives of Australians, and as a result, we anticipate that its effect on people's mental health will continue to be visible.
Burnout is often used as a catch-all term for experiences related to exhaustion resulting from chronic stress. Although there are many scenarios that can lead to a person feeling burnt out, these are typically related to a person’s career or daily responsibilities. People who experience burnout usually feel like they do not have the physical and psychological resources to manage the demands of their daily tasks. Internal factors (such as perfectionism) and external components (such as unrealistic expectations at work) can contribute to burnout.
We often hear people saying they're feeling out of control, overwhelmed or depleted. You may have also experienced the feeling of being burnt out yourself. Burnout isn't a disease, but it is caused by circumstances. With adequate mental health support, rest, and a change in environment, a person can fully recover from burnout.
Burnout is typically characterised by the following clusters of symptoms:
Exhaustion
Cognitive impairment
Loss of empathy
Withdrawal and isolation
Impaired work performance
Change in mood
At Gesond Mental Health our focus is to help you make sense of your experiences and on helping you recover. If you notice that you are working in an environment that may lead to burnout and you would like to be proactive by engaging in burnout prevention work, we are here to help.
Our streamlined online mental health service can effectively address burnout through our range of psychological services. Individual therapy provides a safe space for you to explore your psychological wellbeing and work through the underlying causes of burnout. Career counselling and career assessments are focused on helping you identify areas of dissatisfaction or misalignment in your work and explore potential career paths that better align with your skills, values and interests, reducing the likelihood of burnout.
Finally, our new parent workshops provide a supportive and educational environment for parents who are experiencing, or will soon experience, the added stress and exhaustion of caring for a newborn. These workshops can offer practical support with the focus of preventing burnout and promoting overall well-being, helping parents focus on enjoying this new phase of life.
Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you thrive in today's fast-paced and demanding world.
References:
Parker, G., Tavella, G., & Eyers, K. (2021). Burnout: A Guide to Identifying Burnout and Pathways to Recovery. Allen & Unwin.
Microsoft. (2022). Work Trend Index Report, September 22, 2022.
