Burnout Treatment in Raleigh

Feeling “burned out” is a ubiquitous human experience. It can happen to anyone. However, the phrase “burnout” entered our lexicon in the 1970s based on the work of psychologist Herbert Freudenberger. Initially, the term was used to describe the harmful impact of chronic stress and unrealistic expectations based on high ideals of those in the “helping” professions (e.g., doctors, nurses, therapists). These helpers often helped until they had nothing left to give and they were running on empty; experiencing exhaustion, feelings of listlessness, and inability to cope effectively. In our current era, the term burnout refers to anyone who is suffering from feeling overworked and unfulfilled to the point of mental and physical depletion. It can apply to the helping professions, first responders, driven professionals, overworked employees, teachers, caregivers, and parents or homemakers.

Burnout usually presents itself in three main areas: exhaustion, disconnection, and poor performance.

Exhaustion: People affected feel drained and emotionally exhausted, unable to cope, tired and down, and don’t have enough energy. Physical symptoms include things like pain and gastrointestinal (stomach or bowel) problems. When we’re exhausted, it’s harder to hold space for our emotions. Where over-full with unprocessed stress, so we tend to overflow much easier. This can result in frequent mood changes. When over-stressed, it’s also common to find that we cope less well. We may attempt to avoid painful emotions like depression or guilt, by engaging in excessive drinking, eating, or drug use.

Alienation: People who have burnout find their jobs increasingly stressful and frustrating. They may start being cynical about their working conditions and their colleagues. People often feel very guilty about the fact that, despite their frantic work pace, they can’t accomplish all their tasks or achieve work-life balance. At the same time, they may increasingly distance themselves emotionally, and start feeling numb about their work. This can lead to alienation from both their work environment and their sources of social support in their personal life. Burnout can result in shame in their work performance, which can be related to depression. Depression is notorious for increasing the odds that they will be socially isolated. Less social interaction perpetuates this cycle of alienation.

Reduced performance: Burnout mainly affects everyday tasks at work, at home or when caring for family members. People with burnout are very negative about their tasks, find it hard to concentrate, are listless and lack creativity. Ironically, stress has a negative effect on cognitive abilities, which in turn stresses us out even more.

While there are various questionnaires for self-assessment, there’s no singularly accepted definition of burnout. Though the World Health Organization (WHO) defines burnout as a syndrome specifically in the occupational context, characterized by exhaustion, increased mental distance from one’s job, and reduced professional efficacy, it’s important to recognize the limitations of this definition. At Breyta, we understand that burn-out is not confined to the professional realm and can occur in any role an individual occupies. For the purposes of assessing and healing burn-out, we acknowledge that it encompasses feelings of exhaustion, alienation, and reduced performance, regardless of whether these manifest in a workplace or other life areas. This broader perspective ensures a more inclusive approach to understanding and addressing burn-out in its various forms.

Did you know there are several types of burnout, namely:

Overload Burnout: Occurs when you are working so hard that you become depleted or exhausted from helping others. You only have so much mental and physical energy to give to the things you do on any given day. Consider this energy like speed on a car. If you are experiencing overload burnout, you’ve likely been “redlining” your speed for quite some time. You literally can’t go any further or faster at this rate, but you desperately keep pushing the pedal in search of your goals. If you’re maxing out your hours at the office, only to open up your laptop after hours, or you’re answering office emails late into the night, this applies to you. If you’re taking care of kids or a relative full-time and have no help or time to care for yourself, this could apply to you as a form of Parenting or Caregiver Burnout. This could also reflect your experience if you’re struggling to balance your professional life and caregiving duties and feel stretched too thin. You’re likely to find yourself complaining about your roles and experience to anyone who’ll listen. The problem is, complaining doesn’t replenish your tank or address the root causes of the burnout. Eventually, the pace at which you’re going will take a mental and physical toll.

Underchallenge Burnout: Results from being in a situation wherein you don’t feel you’re being utilized to your full potential. You may feel unappreciated, bored, or not presented with ways to grow or learn. This can leave you feeling cynical, disinterested, and disengaged. You’re likely to avoid responsibilities in your role because it no longer brings you enjoyment or doesn’t feel meaningful. Instead of feeling overworked, your burnout stems from feeling underchallenged and down about the monotony of your daily experience.

Neglect Burnout: Results from not being given the necessary information or tools and means to adequately perform in your role. This may happen when you are unfairly critiqued or evaluated on performance for which you did not know there was an expectation, or if there are expectations that you cannot realistically meet. It’s like playing a game with a moving target that you have no way to anticipate. You’re likely to feel passive, demoralized, incompetent, and lack motivation to engage in your job or with coworkers.

While there are various questionnaires for self-assessment, there’s no singularly accepted definition of burnout. Though the World Health Organization (WHO) defines burnout as a syndrome specifically in the occupational context, characterized by exhaustion, increased mental distance from one’s job, and reduced professional efficacy, it’s important to recognize the limitations of this definition. At Breyta, we understand that burn-out is not confined to the professional realm and can occur in any role an individual occupies. For the purposes of assessing and healing burn-out, we acknowledge that it encompasses feelings of exhaustion, alienation, and reduced performance, regardless of whether these manifest in a workplace or other life areas. This broader perspective ensures a more inclusive approach to understanding and addressing burn-out in its various forms.

The length of time it takes to heal from burnout varies from person-to-person. While some clients begin to see results after a few weeks, for others it takes longer. The important thing to remember is there is no right or wrong way to heal. By working closely with our psychologists, we’ll continue to evolve your personalized treatment plan with your progress, consistently moving you toward overcoming burnout.

For each client, we use a personalized combination of evidence-based methods, namely Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). CBT enables you to identify negative or distorted beliefs you may have about yourself, while ACT helps you change your relationship to unhelpful thoughts and feelings, be more present, and engage in meaningful behaviors, both of which help you along the path to improved wellness.

Yes! We offer both in-person and virtual care options. You can enjoy the safety and comfort of your own space while taking courageous steps toward healing with your psychologist of choice. We offer HIPAA-compliant telehealth platforms to meet your needs. We conduct the same type of treatments in the same way we would in person so you can take comfort in the fact that you aren’t missing any important aspect of care. Telehealth appointments are available in Raleigh, throughout the state of North Carolina, and in select other states.