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Could It Be Burnout?

You’re constantly tired, life is just “too hard,” and your get up and go just got up and went! You heave a heavy sigh and wonder if whatever it is that you’re doing is really worth the effort. Burnout? Could be…

The word “burnout” was first used by Herbert Freudenberger in his 1974 book, Burnout: The High Cost of High Achievement. He defined the term as “the extinction of motivation or incentive, especially where one’s devotion to a cause or relationship fails to produce the desired results.”

What are some symptoms of burnout? If you suffer from burnout, you might just experience:

• Physical Exhaustion – You feel drained of all physical energy, barely able to get out of bed every morning to face the world

• Emotional Exhaustion – Life is, well let’s face it – hard. You’re irritable and more easily frustrated and you’re suffering from a definite lack of motivation

• Lowered Immune System Response – You’re often sick – headaches, body aches, colds, flu-like symptoms can result from burnout stress

• Lack of Interest/Personal Investment in Work – You arrive late to work, you call out sick, your relationships with your boss and co-workers are strained and there are frequent conflicts

• Withdrawal from Personal Relationships – You have less interest in personal relationships; they’re just too much effort. You no longer have fun in any relationships and you have no patience with people

• Behavioral Changes – Maybe you’re abusing alcohol, food or drugs and isolating from others. Maybe your work or family responsibilities are too much of a bother or you’re becoming increasingly frustrated with everything and everyone around you

Let’s face it – experiencing burnout is like resigning from life – you have no drive and no energy to invest in anything or anyone.

What can you do to recover from burnout? Slow down and take some time for yourself to rest, relax and reflect. Let go of any unnecessary commitments that are a burden. Lean on loved ones or professionals for the emotional support you need during this difficult time. Try to discover what’s not working in your life. Are you suffering from a lack of balance between family and work time? Do you need to delegate more on the job? Are you missing out on something you’d really like to do?

Remember that burnout is triggered by your reaction to stress. One of the best ways to manage physical, chemical and emotional stress is to obtain regular chiropractic care. Chiropractic adjustments relieve many of the results of chronic stress on your body; this allows you to adapt better and it helps keep your immune system in tip-top shape too!

Please be sure to let us know if you have any questions when you come in for your next visit. Together, let’s try to keep your power turned on so you don’t experience the dark side of burnout.