Emotional Exhaustion and how you can AVOID it!

Emotional exhaustion is a prolonged state of physical and emotional weakening that results from excessive job, personal demands or continuous stress. It is a feeling of being emotionally over worked, strained and exhausted by one’s work or personal life. Many people experiencing emotional exhaustion often describe it as feeling “stuck” or “trapped” in a situation.

Causes:

Emotional exhaustion can have many causes but a few main ones include;

- Intense schooling

- High-pressure jobs

- Financial stress

- Homelessness

- Death of a friend or family member

- Living with a chronic illness or injury

- Working long hours at a job you hate

- Having a baby

- Raising children

What triggers emotional exhaustion is different for every person. What is considered stressful for one person may be completely manageable for another.

Symptoms:

There can be both emotional and physical symptoms caused by emotional exhaustion. Even though people may experience this differently here are a few of the main symptoms;

- Lack of motivation

- Irritability

- Headaches

- Difficulty sleeping

- Physical fatigue

- Change in appetite

- Nervousness

- Difficulty concentrating

- Sense of dread

- Depression

How to treat/avoid:

- Exercise

- Eat healthier

- Eliminate the stressor

- Get more sleep

- Limit alcohol

- Yoga

- Meditation

- Walk in nature

- Write a journal

- Connect with a friend

- Take a break when you need it

Emotional Exhaustion is a treatable condition. The best way to treat is to eliminate the stressor. If you are unable to eliminate the stressor, take advantage of the resources available to you.

Talk to your primary care provider or a mental health professional about ways to manage stress and anxiety.

Danielle xoxo