Dealing With Burnout In Terms Of Mental Health

Those who struggle with mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, or even just stress, know that a lot of work can go into regularly caring for their mental state. Whether it be working with a therapist, attending peer support group meetings, or practicing good self-care, trying to stay on top of your mental health can become exhausting.

People with mental health issues experience both good and bad days, even if they are following their treatment plan exactly as prescribed. When you do everything you’re supposed to be doing and still aren’t experiencing the results you’re looking for, it can become very frustrating. You may feel as if all your hard work is for nothing and may be tempted to give up your efforts entirely. If this sounds like you, you may be experiencing burnout.

Understanding Burnout

Burnout occurs when someone becomes mentally exhausted from having to expend too much energy, time, or resources on striving toward some sort of result. It can come from the effort put into school, work, sports, parenthood, caregiving positions, and even personal relationships. It is often associated with feelings of frustration, discouragement, hopelessness, and indifference. When your mind is constantly in a state of distress and you’re not getting any relief, recovery becomes difficult and burnout can occur.

Some of the common symptoms of burnout include:

• Feeling trapped
• Feeling detached
• Not feeling in control of your circumstances
• Wanting to isolate yourself from others
• Procrastinating or failing to keep up with personal or professional responsibilities
• Changes in appetite and sleeping patterns

If you’re experiencing burnout when it comes to your mental health upkeep, you’re not the first person to go through this and certainly won’t be the last. Luckily, there is help available.

Combating Burnout in Connection With Mental Health

To combat burnout associated with mental health and mental health treatment, consider the following tips.

Talk to a Doctor

First and foremost, if you are experiencing burnout regarding a mental health condition, have a candid conversation with your doctor or therapist as soon as possible. Aspects of your treatment plan that once worked well for you may no longer be as effective and your plan may need to be updated to better fit your needs.

Your physician can help determine things like whether you need a new or different medication, if you should be connected with a new therapist that better fits your current situation, or if you should try new interventions.

Remember Your Why

Remind yourself of why you decided to seek treatment for your mental health in the first place. It may be so you can be better equipped to reach your goals and dreams. It may be so you can be the best possible version of yourself for your children or partner. Re-focusing your mental health mission on this primary reason can help you find motivation once again.

Find New Self-Care Methods

Consider switching up your methods of self-care. Self-care is something you do regularly to care for your mental, physical or emotional well-being. For some people, it may be reading a chapter of a book after a long day, sharing a cup of coffee with a friend, or practicing some form of meditation.

If you frequently do the same things for your self-care regimen, they may no longer be bringing you the same relief and enjoyment that they once did. By working new methods of self-care into your daily routine to mix things up, you may find a greater sense of rejuvenation.

Physical Health Is Mental Health

Make sure that you’re taking care of your physical health. If you’re not taking care of your body, your mental health will begin to suffer as well. Ensure you’re eating well-balanced and nutritious meals, getting enough good sleep, avoiding too much processed or sugary food, and getting some form of exercise daily. When you begin incorporating good physical health habits, you might be amazed by how much better you feel mentally.

Track Your Progress

You may have made more positive headway regarding your mental health than you realize. It can help to keep a journal, whether it be a physical book or a digital log. Each day before bed you can select a rating for where your mental health is between one and ten, with one being the lowest possible and ten being the best it can be. You can then look back and see what progress you have made over time which can boost your motivation to continue on your journey to achieving the best mental health possible.

Taking care of your mental health can involve work, especially if you deal with a disorder such as anxiety or depression. It may feel like you’re doing everything right and following your treatment plan to the letter and still not finding relief. If you feel like you’re at a standstill and aren’t achieving the results you want, you may be experiencing burnout. Symptoms of burnout often include discouragement and frustration. You may even feel like giving up entirely. If this is your situation, talk to your doctor as soon as possible so they can help adjust your treatment plan. Consider switching up your methods of self-care and tracking your mental health progress. You’ll also want to be sure you’re taking care of your physical health. Our team at Headlight wants to help you reach your best mental health potential. Call 800-930-0803 to learn more.