Burnout, Mental Burden, and How a Therapist Can Help
There’s always more for us to do. Maybe it’s bills to pay, or parties to plan, or calls we have to make. We have doctor’s appointments coming up, others that we need to schedule, parental medical issues we need to deal with, and on and on.
Some of us find it easy to handle these tasks. Others find it difficult, but most of the time it’s out of sight, out of mind. But for others, the daily task list is overwhelming – debilitating – causing a degree of mental overload that is difficult to handle.
Many people in this type of situation experience stress and anxiety at an ever growing task list and worries about other situations that may arise. But those in these situations often think to themselves “this stress is normal, because I have a lot to do, and once I get my task list done I’ll feel better.”
The thing is: there is always more to do. There are always new things that arise. It’s like laundry – we can do every piece of laundry in the house, but by the end of the day we’re going to have more after we change into our pajamas for the night. Laundry never ends, and neither do your tasks (one of which may even be laundry!).
So what can you do?
First, let’s discuss why this is an issue. Yes, you have tasks to complete. Yes, those tasks can add up. A little bit of stress is normal when you have a lot to do. What matters is the extent of the stress, how frequent it is, and how it causes issues such as:
Burnout – When you’re constantly stressed and overwhelmed by your to do list and your worries, it becomes overwhelming. Eventually, all that worrying and all that stress is going to cause burnout, making it difficult to handle anything else that comes your way.
Paralysis – When your task lists gets bigger and more overwhelming, it’s not uncommon that you experience a sort of mental paralysis, where you do not do anything at all. That paralysis also means that less is getting done, leading to more anxiety and stress.
Distraction – When you always have things on your mind, it’s harder to be present with your partner and family, it’s harder to be present with friends, it’s harder to pay attention to shows, and more. That can also cause stress between partners and kids, as there’s less quality time and less presence.
No “Me” Time – When there are tasks that need to be done, it’s very unlikely that you spend any time on productive hobbies. The key word, of course, is productive. Many people sit in front of their phone trying to drown out their thoughts, but they are less likely to go on walks, read, do art, or any other tasks that they’d benefit from completing.
Lastly, living with this type of stress and anxiety can change brain chemistry, putting you at risk for not just anxiety, but also depression.
Yes, there are tasks to complete. There always will be. What matters is finding the right mindset, learning how to reduce the burden that these tasks put on you, and how to address the burnout be more present with your family and friends.
If this sounds like something you’re struggling with, consider reaching out to me today. Let’s talk about what’s been going on with you, and try to find solutions that make sense for your mental health and your life.