Table of Contents
What does burnout do to your brain?
The brains of people who are chronically burnt-out show similar damage as people who have experienced trauma. Burnout reduces the connectivity between different parts of the brain which can lead to decreased creativity, working memory and problem solving skills. Unlike burnout, posttraumatic stress disorder is recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth edition. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The trigger to posttraumatic stress disorder is exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violation. How Long Does Burnout Last? It takes an average time of three months to a year to recover from burnout. How long your burnout lasts will depend on your level of emotional exhaustion and physical fatigue, as well as if you experience any relapses or periods of stagnant recovery. Physical signs and symptoms of burnout Feeling tired and drained most of the time. Lowered immunity, frequent illnesses. Frequent headaches or muscle pain. Change in appetite or sleep habits.
Is burnout a mental breakdown?
Burnout is when a person reaches a state of total mental, physical and emotional exhaustion and it has some similar signs and symptoms to a nervous breakdown. Your doctor can prescribe medicines for many mental health conditions, and refer you to other healthcare professionals, such as psychologists or psychiatrists. PTSD symptoms are caused by trauma or dealing with people who have been traumatized (Figley 1995), whereas burnout is caused by job characteristics, such as workload, work structure, job support, role conflict, and role ambiguity (Maslach et al. 2001). People don’t burn out because they’re weak. They burn out because they overdo it and live with stress for so long that their bodies take over in defense. But by the time the body takes over, it’s usually too late. Even after making professional and personal changes, the effects of burnout might linger for a lifetime. Burnout isn’t something you can recover from in three easy-peasy steps. It can take weeks, months, or even years. In order to begin the process of healing, you’ll have to recognize the signs your body and mind give you once you’re teetering at the edge. Burnout recovery may take as long as three years: A study of coping: Successful recovery from severe burnout and other reactions to severe work-related stress.