Burnout is not always easy to recognize. It definitely affects more and more people. Burnout is one of the most exhausting mental illnesses which we know of. It can take a lot of time and really gets you ‘ill’. If you have a burnout, it is not always easy to treat your exhausted and tense feeling.
To check for yourself if you might have a burnout, you need the following information:
This article will answer these questions one by one.
The following symptoms might indicate a burnout:
As opposed to depression, burnout is not caused by a lack of certain hormones, but rather by using one’s brains too much. This means that you have done too much for a very long period of time.
The DSM describes burnout not as burnout but rather as ‘depression not otherwise specified’. This also indicates the similarities between depression and burnout. In general, the following rules go when it comes to diagnosing a certain illness:
A burnout can only be diagnosed by a doctor, so if you are looking for a diagnosis, it is best to go to your doctor for one.
There are different ways in which one can treat a burnout. Some burnouts do only require a break to take a rest. Most burnouts, however, require more of an intensive approach. The most effective way of treating a burnout is by changing your habits into habits which are healthier for your mind and body.
This change can be made by following therapy. This is something you can do with the help of a psychologist, or even at the hand of an online program. The online self-help program by 15 Minutes 4 Me is based on psychotherapeutic techniques, and helps reduce stress by an average 70% after one month (according to a study published in the Artsenkrant, 2011).
Would you like to know if you experience certain symptoms of burnout or to what extent you experience discomfort because of those? Then take the free online burnout test here!