An unfortunate truth about the world is that overwhelming stress is inevitable at some point or another. Be it due to school, work, or anything else, really, such stress can lead to severe consequences both mentally and physically. Oftentimes, we attempt to just push through whatever’s ailing us, hoping to make it out the other side as quickly as possible. But sometimes that’s not an option, or can lead one to be worse off than before. Burnout is the word used to describe a breakdown resulting from stress. Burnout is quite common in most cultures, including in the United States. The first step in solving this issue is to identify it. As such, that’s exactly what this article is going to discuss.
One of the most common symptoms of burnout is exhaustion. This is likely quite unsurprising, but it’s still important to make note of, as being so wrapped up in work can cause one to ignore their current state. Another common symptom is irritability. If you find yourself abnormally frustrated with the people around you, even if they’re not doing anything particularly out of the ordinary, it’s possible that excess stress is to blame. A few smaller yet still significant symptoms include difficulty sleeping, a feeling of dread towards work or school, and ignoring the aforementioned symptoms when they arise.
As stated before, stress is inevitable. What’s important is to manage that stress. Take breaks. Ask for help. It may seem like getting the work done is all that matters in the moment, but there’s nothing wrong with needing to stop and breathe once in a while.
