Burnout

What is Burnout?

The World Health Organisation recognises burnout as a condition that can occur when we experience lengthy periods of stress. It’s characterised by feelings of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion. 

While stress is a part of life, we aren’t designed to be in a state of prolonged pressure. If you feel like you aren’t able to cope with the demands of your life as it is, you might be suffering from burnout. It's a completely normal and understandable reaction to going through an incredibly stressful time. 

There could be many reasons you experience stress for a long period of time. You might have an especially heavy workload, perhaps family life feels particularly tense. You may have lost a loved one, or maybe you are going through a time of financial difficulty. 

Burnout can also happen when you live with a chronic illness or are recovering from an illness. Whatever the causes, there are no hard definitions or rules when it comes to your experience. Burnout is different for everyone, and there are many symptoms.

Burnout Symptoms

Physical symptoms:

• Having aches and pains in your body
• Feeling a sense of physical exhaustion
• Waking up feeling like you haven’t rested properly
• Having a heavy feeling in your stomach
• Experiencing physical symptoms of anxiety
• Headaches
• Insomnia, fatigue and changes in sleep patterns
• Finding it hard to get out of bed in the morning
• Jaw clenching
• Digestive issues and changes in appetite
• Panic attacks
• Shortness of breath

Mental & emotional symptoms:

• Feeling more irritable than usual
• Heightened emotional responses (quick to cry, get angry or frustrated)
• Feelings of depression
• Decreased motivation
• Feelings of hopelessness
• Feeling a sense of apathy
• Difficulty concentrating
• Being absentminded
• Increased feelings of cynicism or pessimism
• Feeling anxious a lot of the time
• Having a negative attitude towards yourself and others
• Wanting to isolate yourself

What Can Cause Burnout?

Life and work factors that can contribute to burnout include:

• Unrealistic expectations at work
• High-pressure jobs
• Working long hours, whether you love your job or not
• Financial stress 
• The death of a loved one
• Having a baby
• Raising children
• Being a caregiver to a loved one
• Intense schooling, such as university degrees and postgraduate studies
• Unmanageable workloads at home or in the workplace

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There are also several conditions that can increase the risk of burnout. These include:

Anxiety burnout

Extended periods of anxiety can be very tough on both the body and mind. If you’ve been going through a prolonged period of feeling anxious, you might be more at risk of anxiety burnout. The information on our Anxiety page might be helpful in understanding why you are experiencing burnout symptoms. 

ADHD burnout

Living and working with ADHD comes with its own set of challenges that can feel hard to navigate. Burnout is very common for people with ADHD. Issues with organisation and impulsivity often associated with ADHD can compound symptoms caused by prolonged periods of exhaustion. If you know or suspect you have ADHD, then our ADHD page has some further information to help you understand what you are going through.

Autism burnout

Research has shown that autistic burnout is different from the experience of those who are neurotypical. It can severely affect functioning and cause a lowering in the ability to cope with stimuli. Our blog on Autistic Burnout contains valuable information about what it means to suffer from burnout for an autistic person. If you or a loved one feels like that’s what you might be going through, our experienced team of compassionate specialists are right here to help. 

How to Recover From Burnout

Addressing your feelings of burnout is a sign of strength. Reaching out for help means that you are on the path to reclaiming a sense of balance and wellness in your life. You deserve to feel confident, well rested and able to engage with your life fully again. 

The path to recovery looks different for everyone. With the right guidance and support, you can learn new strategies to deal with what you are facing.

Private Treatment for Burnout in London and the UK

At The London Psychiatry Clinic, we have a team of dedicated specialists with a wealth of experience dealing with burnout. Our expertise stems from an evidence-based, holistic approach that appreciates you for the unique individual you are. We will work together to develop a treatment plan that is suited to your specific needs and those of your life situation. It’s a collaborative approach based on compassionate listening and understanding.

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Here’s what our treatment approach looks like:

• Coming into a new space can feel overwhelming, especially if you are going through burnout symptoms. We aim to create a relaxing and inviting environment in which you feel safe to talk about your issues.
• We value matching you with the right specialist. We’ll ensure that you have someone with the education and expertise to complement your specific needs.
• We encourage you to take advantage of our free initial phone conversation before arranging an appointment. This will help us get to know your unique requirements and give you an overview of what to expect when you visit us. 
• When you meet with your specialist to talk through your symptoms of burnout, they’ll carry out a detailed assessment that follows the latest clinical guidelines.

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Although treatment may vary depending on your symptoms and what you are experiencing, our approach to treatment will also always involve the following:

• Evidence-based approaches: We follow the NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guidelines. These are evidence-based recommendations for health and social care that all clinicians in the UK follow to ensure they provide high-quality care.
• Personalised treatment plans: We know that every person is unique, with their own histories and individual lives. We will collaborate with you through compassionate listening and a gentle approach to create a treatment plan that feels manageable for you within the framework of your life. 
• Holistic improvement: Our goal is to help you not only improve your symptoms but your overall well-being. Having someone experienced by your side as you begin to uncover and understand what you are facing is such a valuable tool in your journey towards recovery from burnout.

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No matter what may be causing you to experience burnout, we can help. You are only one phone call away from beginning your journey to understanding and managing your symptoms.

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Best Therapy for Burnout

There are a few different types of therapy that we use for addressing burnout.

• Talking therapy: Involves talking about your issues with one of our highly specialised therapists. Talking therapy aims to uncover the root causes behind why you are experiencing burnout. It’s a valuable space to share your thoughts and feelings safely.
• CBT (Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy): CBT is a type of talking therapy that can help identify and shift thought and behaviour patterns that could be contributing to your prolonged period of stress. After talking things through with your therapist to understand your issues, you’ll likely set some goals together to work towards. This might look like addressing lifestyle factors that could be exacerbating your symptoms, tackling negative thoughts and beliefs that might be affecting you, or developing new ways to relax.

Best Medication for Burnout

There isn’t a medication that specifically targets burnout. Some people going through burnout might benefit from taking antidepressants to tackle some of the symptoms. Our specialists will always explain every available treatment option to you so that you can make an informed decision. If you and your specialist decide that medication is a pathway worth exploring, it will always be in conjunction with support from talking therapy. 

Nutrition & Lifestyle Support For Burnout

Looking at lifestyle factors and nutrition is a key element of our burnout treatment. Our tools for addressing this include examining factors such as sleep, work, nutrition, exercise and time spent in nature. Together we will look into the places you might be able to make manageable changes to reduce the stress on your body and mind. This might look like establishing a regular nighttime routine, making improvements to your diet and finding ways to spend more time out in nature. 

We will always work together, making workable changes that feel right for you. You don’t have to go through burnout alone. We are right here with you.

Find the best kind of treatment for Burnout

Going through burnout can feel incredibly isolating and scary, but you don’t have to manage it all alone. Our dedicated team of specialists are here to help you find the best ways to reduce stress and move forward in life. You are only a phone call away from someone who can help. Speak with us today