Do any of these sound familiar?
• You chronically over-commit, taking on extra shifts at work or saying “yes” to all of the invitations (fear of missing out/FOMO is so real)
• You want to rest, but when you do get the chance, it feels unfamiliar (maybe even uncomfortable), so you keep filling your schedule to the brim
• You’re the one who supports everyone at the drop of a hat, including that person you met 5 minutes ago, but you don’t ask or get the same in return
• You have high expectations of yourself, and you think you should be able to complete everything on your to-do list
• You’ve been juggling raising kids, taking care of aging parents, trying to advance your career, and/or working to make enough money to survive in this economy
Whatever the reason for yours may be, burnout can make it feel impossible to function on a daily basis. You may even wonder whether you’re experiencing burnout or depression. While burnout and depression may seem similar on the surface, burnout tends to be in response to an immediate and/or long-standing stressor in a specific area of our lives. We may still find joy in our hobbies and in other aspects of life, and once the stressor is removed or dealt with, our burnout symptoms tend to improve. This often isn’t the case when it comes to depression, as it tends to be more deeply rooted in our belief systems, which impact our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours in most areas of our lives.
While burnout can bring a sense of hopelessness, it can also serve as a signal that something isn’t working for us. If we turn towards our burnout and explore its potential causes, we may learn a great deal about ourselves and what we need to move forward. Our work together can explore the “why” behind the burnout. For some, the “why” may be a career that doesn’t feel aligned, high-expectations of self, lack of social support, hyper-independence, or a challenging economy. Once we determine what the cause of your burnout is, we can work towards possible solutions that feel feasible for you.