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Therapists in Vermont: Watch out for Burnout

We often hear about ‘job burnout’, and we’ll discuss that, but we should start by acknowledging that you can experience burnout at work, while volunteering or even burnout in a relationship, so it’s important to keep a broad definition of the context in which a person can experience burnout.

First, let’s look at what burnout is. Here are some of the symptoms associated with burnout:

  • Becoming Cynical or Overly Critical
  • Struggling to Begin or Complete Tasks
  • Becoming Irritable or Impatient
  • Lacking the Energy to be Productive
  • Difficulty Concentrating
  • Lacking Satisfaction from Achievements
  • Using Food, Drugs or Alcohol to Feel Better
  • Trouble Sleeping
  • Unexplained Headaches, Stomach Upset, Bowel Problems

Source: Mayo Clinic

Any one of the symptoms above might not indicate burnout on their own, but if you’re noticing more than one ringing true, you might want to explore the common causes of burnout. They are not limited to the following list, but here are some of the common causes of burnout:

Lack of Control – when responsibilities are handed to you and feedback is not welcome you may end up feeling like you’re not important in the greater scheme of things…you’re just a pair of hands or a strong back needed to accomplish repetitive tasks.

Unclear Expectations – It’s hard to succeed if you’re not sure how success is defined. If you’ve noticed a pattern where the goals keep moving or conversations about expectations aren’t productive you may find yourself in a bind, trying to decide how to succeed.

Dysfunction or Abuse – We want to think the best of our friends, partners and coworkers, but in some cases they are abusive, manipulative or otherwise unfair in their treatment of others. Noticing that a relationship is unhealthy is the first step to understanding why you’re experiencing long term stress in relation to that person.

If any of these symptoms or situations ring true for your work life, home life or relationships it might be time to work through things in talk therapy. It may be possible to improve your situation or maybe you need to think about a transition in life. In either case, finding a therapist in Vermont who can listen and problem solve with you is a good first step.

*Each individual’s circumstances are unique. The content of the Vermont Talk Therapy blog is intended to provide general information and should not be taken as therapeutic advice. To begin therapy or discuss your specific needs, get in touch with the therapists of Vermont Talk Therapy.

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