Burnout 101

Burnout. A word so overused it's a cliché. But, is there something there to which we should pay attention?  Is there a trap door along the path of high achievement?  An entry fee to the theater of success?  Are we at risk of derailment just before we grasp the brass ring?

You'd better believe it. Take heed of the warnings signs:

Anhedonia: This is psychology's way of saying, "I've lost that loving feeling," for almost everything I used to enjoy or find fulfilling. It's a loss of passion - the juice that powers our engine. What used to light you up doesn't anymore and you can't seem to find a flame anywhere!

A first cousin of depression, anhedonia is invited into our life when we're emotionally overloaded. It's invited in when an imbalance exists in our work-life equation and our personal life is being devitalized.

Tip: Restore the balance by taking more personal time. Engage in non-work activities. Consider a mental health consultation if balancing does not improve your condition.

Restless Agitation: Do you find yourself losing your temper?  Easily irritated by people and every day events?  Are you acting out in ways that are inconsistent with whom you really are such as drinking too much, spending more money than you have or embarrassing your guests?

Physiologically, burnout manifests itself as low-grade anxiety - like, "I need to do something to not feel this way but I don't know what to do."

Tip: Push yourself into rigorous exercise and physical activity. It should calm the demons and settle your soul.

Boredom: Your mind is a vast reservoir of capabilities and potentialities. People who are "burning" feel as if their potential either has passed them by or is seriously underutilized. The response is a dull, unenthusiastic, and muted response to what used to be challenging. Sometimes, it's motivationally challenged to the point of inaction.

Tip: The hidden gift of burnout is the wakeup call embedded within its symptoms.  Ask yourself what this dark night of the soul may be requiring of you.

This article was written by Dr. Jay Kent-Ferraro, www.DrJayFerraro.com.