4. Burnout
UGA PEDB Program
The previous chapter briefly discussed Seyles stages of stress. In this chapter, we will focus on the final stage of stress exhaustion, also known as burnout.
What is Burnout?
Burnout can be due to either physical exhaustion or mental distress. It is generally catalyzed by prolonged stress, in situations where high demands are placed on the individual9. This syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low personal accomplishment culminates in decreased effectiveness at school and work10. As the pressures of courses, internships, shadowing, and social activities add up, we can begin to feel exhausted.
Increased risk for experiencing burnout
- You strongly identify with academics
- You lack balance between your school life and your personal life
- You have a high workload, including excessive course loads, multiple social obligations, unrealistic expectations
- You plan to go into a helping profession, such as health care, teaching, or caregiving
- You feel you have little or no control over your situation
Symptoms
- Feeling exhausted no matter how much sleep you get, resulting in fatigue and insomnia
- Lacking the motivation to attend classes or start assignments
- Lashing out at others and increased irritability due to frustration
- Lacking inspiration and creativity to bring to projects and class discussions
- Loss of confidence in academic abilities
- Incapability to meet important deadlines
- Increased pain and tension in your body that can manifest as headaches, sore muscle aches, or jaw tension
- Higher frequency of illness due to stress and exhaustion
- Inability to concentrate on schoolwork or lectures
- Feeling bored or uninterested in aspects of school or areas of leisure that you used to enjoy
Coping with Burnout
- Evaluate your options. If you feel exhausted by the end of the semester, the semester’s demands were too much. Discuss these specific concerns with your advisor. Maybe you can work together to change or shift your course work to allow time to focus on your well-being. Try to set goals for what must get done and what can wait. There is only so much that can be accomplished in a semester.
- Seek support. Whether you reach out to schoolmates, friends, or loved ones, discussing your struggles and talking with someone about the issues you are having can help. Feeling connected with friends and family is vital to overcoming stressful situations. Take advantage of counseling and psychiatric services (CAPS). CAPS is the counseling service located on campus, and they provide workshops and counseling to help students manage their stress.
- Self-care. It is important to set aside time for yourself each week. Try and focus on being present during this time, and make your self-care time free of worrying about your to-do list. Explore programs that can help with stress such as yoga, meditation, or tai chi.
- Get some exercise. As discussed previously, regular physical activity can help you to better