Signs of emotional

21 Signs of Emotional Abuse in Relationships

Not all kinds of abuse come with visible signs or warnings. Some, like emotional abuse, may affect you before you realize what’s happening.

Emotional mistreatment and abuse can take many forms. Sometimes, it can sneak up on you and hide in sweet words. Other times, it comes in waves of complete silence.

It can be difficult to know when you’re experiencing emotional abuse. You may not recognize some of the signs. Maybe you’ve been led to believe you’re too sensitive, or all relationships are like this.

But when you start feeling isolated, powerless, or worthless in your relationships, you might want to pay closer attention.

There’s never a good reason for you to feel this way. You deserve respect, love, and care.

Learning to pinpoint the red flags in your relationship can help you make empowered decisions about it.

Abuse refers to words and behaviors that intentionally cause harm. It can range from physically violent acts to sexual assault to neglect and humiliation.

Abuse can happen only once, or it can be a pattern of behavior that repeats over time and across situations.

Abuse is always intentional. You might hurt others with words or actions, but this doesn’t always qualify as abuse.

Doing something with the intention of taking advantage of or hurting someone else, qualifies as abuse.

Someone may not be aware that their behavior is defined as abuse. But, if the intention of their actions is to exert control, take your power away, manipulate you, or retain you against your will, then that is abusive behavior.

Abuse is defined by the intention and not always by the impact. In other words, someone may say hurtful things and push you around with the intention to cause you harm. Even if you don’t get hurt by what they do, their actions qualify as abuse.

Emotional abuse

Abuse isn’t always physical or evident. You don’t need to have visible “proof” someone is causing you harm.

Emotional abuse occurs when someone uses words and nonviolent behaviors to exert power and control over you. It’s sometimes referred to as mental or psychological abuse.

Emotional abuse can be any harmful behavior that may negatively affect your emotional state. Even if you don’t experience a negative impact from what the other person is saying or doing, if their intention was to hurt you, that is abuse.

Emotional abuse often leads you to develop a negative self-image and poor confidence.

Someone with emotionally abusive behaviors may try to isolate you from loved ones, for example. They may use manipulation tactics to prevent you from doing things you enjoy.

Sometimes, emotional unavailability and emotional abandonment may also be considered emotional abuse.

You may find emotional abuse gradually takes away your freedom, individuality, and sense of self.

Over 10 years ago, national survey data showed approximately half of people in the United States had at some point experienced emotional abuse by a romantic partner.

Emotional abuse doesn’t have to come from a partner, though. It can also come from employers, co-workers, family, and friends.

Example of nonpartner emotional abuse

Something important happened at work and you’re running late to meet your mom for dinner.

When you call her to let her know, she replies, “It’s fine. You always have something more important than me, anyway. I’m used to it.”

You’re hurt by her comment, but convince yourself her words are justified because you’re the one running late.

When you get to the restaurant, she barely speaks to you. When you say your goodbyes, she says, “I’m busy next week with your brother. He’s a good son and never forgets about me.”

Emotional abuse doesn’t have to happen regularly. It can be a one-time occurrence, or it may happen several times.

You may experience emotional abuse throughout an entire relationship with someone.

Emotional abuse is never OK. But abusive patterns may have greater psychological consequences compared to one-time events.

If someone has a singular abusive behavior, sometimes that behavior can be addressed and changed.

Abusive patterns, however, work over time by affecting your thoughts and emotions, wearing you down.

It’s not always easy to spot signs of emotional abuse. You can learn to recognize abusive behaviors in others. But if you’re experiencing abuse, you may notice your own behavior changes, too.

11 behavioral signs of emotional abuse in others

Some of these attitudes and behaviors may signal someone is emotionally abusing you.

Shaming

Shaming is any action or word intended to make you feel ashamed of being you.

Shaming can make you feel in the wrong for your thoughts or actions.

It can include expressions like, “Why would you do that?” It may also take the form of comments that target insecurities, such as your body image.

Blaming

Emotionally abusive blaming can take the form of “flipping the switch,” or suddenly blaming you for someone else’s behaviors or reactions.

“I wouldn’t have done it if you hadn’t made me so angry,” is an example of blaming that removes responsibility from the person with abusive behaviors.

Criticizing

Criticism that’s cruel or isn’t constructive may be emotionally abusive. Interrupting you mid-conversation to say you don’t know when to shut up, for example, can be a form of emotional abuse.

Guilting

Guilt can be a powerful manipulation tactic. When you feel as though you’ve let someone down, you’re not good enough, or you’re a disappointment, you may change your behavior to avoid that feeling in the future.

Humiliating

One of the more obvious forms of emotional abuse is humiliating. This may come as public embarrassment, or private behaviors that degrade you and make you feel less than human.

Ridiculing

Name-calling, mean “jokes,” and sarcasm can all be forms of abusive ridicule.

Dismissing

When your thoughts, values, or opinions are dismissed, it can make you feel unimportant. Over time, you may question if your input has any value.

Accusing

Unfair accusations can manipulate you into people-pleasing behaviors. If someone is constantly accusing you of infidelity, for example, you may go to extra lengths to be attentive toward them. You might also stop leaving the house out of fear they might confront you about where you are.

Neglecting

When your physical or emotional needs aren’t met, this can be a form of neglect. Emotional neglect might mean deliberately withholding affection, or punishing you with the silent treatment.

Monitoring

Monitoring can destroy your sense of privacy. Reading your messages, scanning your social media, and showing up at events you’re attending are all forms of monitoring.

Verbally berating

Emotional abuse doesn’t have to be subtle. Sometimes it comes as verbal attacks, mood swings, or fits of yelling.

10 signs of emotional abuse in yourself

When emotionally abusive behaviors in someone else are difficult to spot, you may be able to identify the abuse by exploring yourself.

Personal signs you may be experiencing emotional abuse can include:

Social withdrawal. You feel isolated or withdrawn from others.
Low self-esteem. You become self-critical or feel worthless.
Fear. You walk on eggshells or avoid saying or doing things that could cause a reaction.
Adapting to other people’s expectations. You change your appearance or interests despite your preferences.
Losing your identity. You give up activities you enjoy.
Dependence or codependence. You lose your sense of independence.
Voice and power. You don’t contribute to decisions or participate in projects that affect both of you.
Shame. You feel guilty or anxious about who you are.
Physical changes. You notice changes in your sleeping, eating, or weight patterns.
Psychological symptoms. You experience mental health conditions such as depression.

The effects of emotional abuse can be broad and often depend on your unique circumstances.

Emotional abuse from a parent, for example, may create different challenges compared with those that result from partner abuse.

The effects of emotional abuse on you may also vary depending on your emotional resources and support network.

If you feel you may be experiencing abuse in your relationship, support is available. There are many ways to deal with the situation.

No matter what type of emotional abuse you’ve experienced, speaking with a mental health professional may help.

You can explore coping strategies and learn how to set boundaries. Setting boundaries can protect your mental health and help you make the right decisions for yourself.

You may also find it helpful to reach out to someone who can understand what you’re going through. These resources are available right now:

National Domestic Violence Hotline. Call 800-799-7233, text “start” at 88788, or chat here.
Crisis Text Line. Text 741741 or start a chat by typing “home” via this link.

Abuse refers to any behavior that has the intention to control, overpower, or hurt you. It can come from romantic partners, family members, friends, co-workers, or strangers.

Emotional abuse may be more subtle, but it can gradually affect your self-esteem and sense of personal power. It’s never your fault, though over time, experiencing emotional abuse may make you think you’re to blame.

The signs of emotional abuse can be difficult to spot. You may not be able to recognize some of the abusive behaviors in someone else, but you could identify some changes in yourself.

Feeling withdrawn, worthless, or fearful are just some personal indications you may be experiencing emotional abuse.

Exiting an abusive situation is possible and healing can be achieved. You’re not alone, and you deserve to start your path toward respect and care.

What It Is and Signs to Watch For

You might be familiar with many of the obvious signs of emotional abuse and manipulation. But when you’re in an abusive situation, it’s easy to miss the subtle early signs that build up to a a persistent undercurrent of abusive behavior.

Emotional abuse involves attempts to frighten, control, or isolate you. This type of abuse doesn’t involve physical violence, though it might involve threats of violence directed toward you or your loved ones. It’s characterized by a person’s words, actions, and the consistency of these behaviors. Abuse may start gradually, but it happens again and again.

People of any age or gender can abuse or experience abuse. And abuse doesn’t just happen in the context of romantic relationships. The person abusing you could be your spouse or romantic partner — but they might also be your business partner, parent, caretaker, or even your adult child.

Regardless, you don’t deserve the abuse, and it’s definitely not your fault.

Continue reading to learn how to recognize the signs of emotional abuse and get some guidance on what to do next.

Someone abusing you may use different tactics to undermine your self-esteem.

Examples include:

Name-calling and derogatory nicknames. They’ll blatantly call you “stupid,” “a loser,” or use other insults. Maybe they use terms of “endearment” that actually highlight things you’re sensitive about — “my little nail biter” or “my chubby pumpkin” — and ignore your requests to stop.
Character assassination. This usually involves the word “always.” You’re always late, wrong, screwing up, disagreeable, and so on. They might say these things to you, or use them to describe your behavior to others.
Yelling. Screaming, yelling, and swearing can intimidate you and make you feel small and inconsequential. Maybe they never hit you, but they do pound their fist, throw things, or damage property.
Patronizing. They belittle you by saying things like, “I know you try, but this is just beyond the scope of your brain.”
Public embarrassment. They pick fights, share your secrets, or make fun of your shortcomings in public.
Dismissiveness. You share something important to you and they reply with, “What? Who cares about that?” Body language like eye rolling, smirking, head shaking, and sighing help convey the same message.
“Joking.” When you express discomfort with something they’ve said, they snap back, “Can’t you take a joke? Grow up.” You’re left feeling foolish and wondering whether you are, in fact, too sensitive.
Insulting your appearance. As you head out, they stop you at the door. “You’re wearing that ridiculous outfit? No wonder you can’t get a date.” Or they constantly say you’re lucky they chose you, since they could find someone so much more attractive.
Belittling your accomplishments. They brush off your achievements, saying they don’t matter, or claim responsibility for your successes.
Putting down your interests. They suggest your hobby is a waste of time. “You’ll never be any good at the piano, so why do you keep trying?” Really, they’d rather you not participate in activities without them.
Pushing your buttons. Once they find something that annoys you or makes you uncomfortable, they begin to mention it every chance they get, ignoring your requests that they stop.

Abusive behavior relates to the desire to maintain power and control. Someone abusing you might attempt to manipulate you into doing what they want you to do, often by making you feel ashamed of your inadequacies.

They may try to control you by:

Making threats. They imply — or say outright — that they’ll fire you or report you for being an unfit parent. They might even say something like, “There’s no telling what I might do,” to keep things vague and leave you afraid.
Monitoring your whereabouts. They want to know where you are, always, and insist you respond to calls or texts immediately. They might show up at your work or school, just to check you did actually go there.
Spying on you digitally. They demand your passwords, or insist you go password-free, and regularly check your internet history, emails, texts, and call log.
Gaslighting. Someone abusing you may deny that specific events, arguments, or agreements ever happened. This tactic can leave you questioning your own memory, not to mention your mental health and well-being.
Making all the decisions. This might involve closing a joint bank account and canceling doctor’s appointments. They may insist you withdraw from school and resign from work — or do so on your behalf. Or maybe they tell you what to wear, what to eat (and how much), or which friends you can spend time with.
Controlling your access to finances. They keep bank accounts in their name and make you ask for money. They also expect you to keep your receipts and account for every penny you spend.
Emotional blackmailing. Someone using this tactic will attempt to get you to do things by manipulating your feelings. They might use tricky questions to “test” you, take on the role of victim, or try to guilt-trip you.
Lecturing you constantly. After you make a mistake, no matter how minor, they catalog all of your errors with a long monologue. They describe all the ways you’ve fallen short and make it clear they consider you beneath them.
Giving direct orders. From, “I don’t care what happened. You stay here until you get that client back, or you’re fired,” to “Stop taking the pill,” they expect you to do everything they say without question.
Having frequent outbursts. They told you to cancel that outing with your friend, or put the car in the garage, but you didn’t. So, they become enraged, angrily shouting about how inconsiderate and uncooperative you are.
Feigning helplessness. They say they don’t know how to do something, hoping you’ll simply do it yourself instead of taking the time to explain it.
Unpredictability. They explode for no clear reason, then suddenly shower you with affection. Or maybe their mood shifts from upbeat to dark and angry with little warning, leaving you never sure what to expect.
Walking out. A partner or parent might leave a social event suddenly, so you have no way home. A supervisor might exit during a discussion about your assignment, so your questions remain unresolved.
Stonewalling you. During a disagreement or conflict, they shut down, refusing to respond to your attempts to communicate.

People who abuse others often try to create a hierarchy that puts them at the top and you at the bottom.

Examples might include:

Jealousy. They accuse you of flirting or cheating, or say you’d spend all your time with them if you truly loved them.
Using guilt. They might try to guilt-trip you into doing something by saying things like, “You owe me this. Look at all I’ve done for you,” in an attempt to get their way.
Unrealistic expectations. They expect you to do what they want, when they want you to do it. They think you should always prioritize their needs, do things according to their standards — and you absolutely shouldn’t hang out with your friends or family if there’s any chance they might need you.
Goading and blaming. People who manipulate and abuse typically know just how to upset you. But once you do get upset, they pin the blame back on you — after all, it’s your fault for being so sensitive and incompetent.
Denying the abuse. When you express concerns about their behavior, they might deny it, seemingly bewildered at the very thought. They may even suggest you’re the one with anger and control issues, or say they only get angry because you’re such a difficult person.
Trivializing. When you explain how much something they said or did upset you and hurt your feelings, they accuse you of overreacting or misunderstanding the situation.
Blaming you for their problems. When things go wrong, they always blame you. If only you’d been a more loving child, a more supportive partner, or a better parent, they might say, their life would be fantastic.
Destroying and denying. They might throw your phone down to break it, “lose” your car keys, or destroy other important possessions, then deny it or say it happened accidentally.

Someone abusing you will generally try to get you to prioritize their needs and neglect your own.

Often, they’ll also make an effort to isolate you by coming between you and your supportive loved ones — a step which, of course, leaves you more dependent on them.

Tactics they might use include:

Dehumanizing you. They’ll intentionally look away when you’re talking or stare at something else when speaking to you in an effort to make you feel unimportant.
Keeping you from socializing. Whenever you have plans to go out, they come up with a distraction or beg you not to go.
Invalidating you. They might suggest or say straight out that your needs, boundaries, and desires don’t matter to them.
Trying to come between you and your family. They’ll tell family members you don’t want to see them or make excuses why you can’t attend family functions. Later, they might tell you that your loved ones don’t care about you or think there’s something wrong with you.
Using the silent treatment. They might ignore your attempts at conversation in person, via text, or over the phone.
Withholding affection. They won’t touch you, even to hold your hand or pat you on the shoulder. They may refuse to have any intimate contact if you offend them, or they want you to do something you don’t want to do.
Shutting down communication. They might wave you off, change the subject, or simply ignore you when you want to talk about important concerns.
Actively working to turn others against you. They might tell other people in your life, including co-workers, friends, and even your family, that you lie, have lost touch with reality, or have had an emotional breakdown.
Denying support. When you need emotional support or help with a problem, they might call you needy, say the world can’t stop and wait on your problems, or tell you to toughen up and fix it yourself.
Interrupting. They might get in your face when you’re in the middle of an activity and take away your phone or anything else in your hands to let you know your attention should be on them.
Disputing your feelings. No matter what feeling or emotion you express, they might insist you shouldn’t feel that way. For example, “You shouldn’t be angry over that,” or “What have you got to feel sad about?”

Learn more about codependency and how to overcome it.

If you believe you’re experiencing emotional abuse, trust your instincts.

Abuse is never your fault, and you don’t have to live with it

If you fear immediate physical violence, get to a safe place if you can. You can also call 911 or your local emergency services for help.

If you aren’t in immediate danger and you need to talk or find some place to go, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233. This free, confidential 24/7 hotline can put you in touch with service providers and shelters across the United States.

Find more resources here.

These tips offer a place to start:

Don’t try to fix them. You may want to help, but it’s often difficult for abusive people to change their behavior without professional support. You can encourage them to work with a therapist, but they have to make the choice themselves.
Avoid self-blame. Remember, you never deserve abuse, no matter what you’ve said or done. The only person responsible is the one engaging in abusive behavior.
Prioritize your needs. Taking care of your physical and emotional needs can help you move forward to a place where you feel comfortable setting boundaries, reaching out for support, and leaving the abusive situation.
Avoid engaging with them. Don’t reply to their text messages, phone calls, or emails. If you can’t avoid working or spending time with them, try to keep another person with you and limit your conversation to essential topics.
Set personal boundaries. Decide how you’ll avoid responding to manipulation or getting pulled into arguments. Express those limits to the person using abuse tactics and stick to them. You might say, for example, “If you call me names, I’ll go home,” or, “If you start teasing me in public, I’ll leave. ”
Build a support network. It might feel frightening to open up about what you’ve experienced, but reaching out to loved ones and a supportive therapist can go a long way toward helping you get the support you need to heal.
Exit the relationship or circumstance. State clearly that the relationship is over and cut all ties, if possible. Block their number and social media accounts, and ignore attempts to reach out.
Give yourself time to heal. Take space to focus on your needs and recovery. This might involve rediscovering your sense of self, creating a new self-care routine, and talking with a therapist who can offer guidance with recovery.

Leaving an abusive relationship often proves more challenging if you’re married, have children, or have shared assets. If that’s your situation, a good next step involves seeking legal assistance.

A domestic violence advocate or mental health professional can also help you develop an exit plan to leave the relationship safely.

The following resources can also help you come up with a plan:

DomesticShelters.org. Visit this website for educational information, a free hotline, and a searchable database of services in your area.
Love Is Respect. This nonprofit organization offers teens and young adults a chance to chat online, call, or text with advocates.

Burnout syndrome

Burnout syndrome is a state of emotional, mental exhaustion, physical fatigue resulting from chronic stress at work. May be characterized by impaired productivity at work, fatigue, insomnia, increased susceptibility to somatic diseases, alcohol or other psychoactive substance use, and suicidal behavior.

The development of this syndrome is typical, first of all, for professions where the provision of assistance to people dominates (medical workers, teachers, psychologists, social workers, rescuers, law enforcement officers, firefighters). Work with “heavy” clients also predisposes to burnout (gerontological, oncological patients, aggressive, suicidal patients, patients with addictions.

EBS is seen as the result of an unfavorable resolution of stress in the workplace.

Signs of burnout:

Behavioral change: boredom, resistance to work, tardiness, substance use, accident susceptibility, decreased creativity.
Change in feelings: depression, gallows humor, feelings of failure, guilt, bitterness, irritability, nit-picking.
Changes in thinking: decreased concentration, rigidity, suspicion, incredulity, victim mentality, callousness.
Changes in health: sleep disturbance, fatigue, reduced immunity.

Questionnaire

Evaluation of the syndrome of emotional burnout.

Phases of development of the CMEA (according to Selye).

I Voltage phase.
It is a harbinger and a “triggering” mechanism in the formation of emotional burnout. The development of CMEA is preceded by a period of increased activity, when a person is completely absorbed in work, refuses needs that are not related to it, forgets about his own needs. If these efforts of an employee are adequately assessed and supported, if a person receives a sense of the importance and significance of his work, the CMEA does not develop. If not, and there is a collapse of ideas, then the CMEA gets its development.
II Phase resistance.
A person strives for psychological comfort and therefore tries to reduce the pressure of external circumstances.
III Phase of exhaustion.
It is characterized by a drop in the overall energy tone and a weakening of the nervous system. "Burnout" becomes an integral attribute of personality.

Metastases of "burnout" penetrate into the value system of the individual. There is an anti-humanistic attitude. The personality claims that working with people is not interesting, does not give satisfaction, and does not represent social value.

Prevention and treatment of burnout syndrome.

What protects against the development of EBS can also be used in the treatment of an already developed syndrome.

Two aspects can be distinguished here: individual protection and organizational approach.

Consider the qualities that help a specialist avoid professional burnout.

Firstly, these are the following individual personality traits of a person:

Conscious, purposeful care of one's physical condition (for example, playing sports and maintaining a healthy lifestyle).
High self-esteem and confidence in oneself, one's abilities and capabilities (working with unstable self-esteem, reading psychological literature or contacting a psychotherapist who will point out directions in this matter).
High professional self-esteem (the need to constantly improve one's professional level).

Secondly, burnout is avoided by people who have experience of successfully overcoming professional stress; capable of constructive change under stressful conditions.

Thirdly, an important distinguishing feature of people who are not subject to CMEA is the ability to form and maintain positive, optimistic attitudes and values in themselves, both in relation to themselves and other people and life in general. At the end of a brief review of personal protective equipment, I would like to say that "Calllessness to yourself is also a mutilation."

Be attentive to yourself. At the first manifestations of SEB, start acting: take a break, meet friends, change the environment, discover your creative abilities. If improvised means do not help, seek help. This can be attending trainings (from personal growth training to creativity training), individual or group work with a psychotherapist. Remember, the CMEA will not go away on its own, you must take steps to protect yourself. If you feel that you cannot cope with the problem yourself, do not delay the trip to a specialist.

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How to recognize and eliminate burnout

What is burnout?

Is work no longer satisfying? You have little time, but even when you manage to do the job, do you realize that you could do it much better? Are you constantly sleepy and do you feel a certain isolation? If yes, then it is very likely that you have a burnout syndrome at work.

Understanding what constitutes burnout, as well as the ability to identify and overcome it, are crucial not only for work, but also for personal mental health. Although burnout is not (yet) included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th Edition list of official diagnoses, it is not just a buzzword - emotional state is a serious problem. Everyone who has experienced this will confirm that this is a real mental disorder that has clear causes and manifestations and can occur in any person.

Burnout is not just a fashionable synonym for such concepts as "failure" or "stress". It is something much more. The very word “burnout” describes the situation quite accurately, because a person with a burnout syndrome can be compared in many ways to an extinguished candle.

Emotional burnout means a complete loss of motivation and energy, combined with an increase in cynicism and a decrease in self-esteem. It affects both physical and mental health and can negatively impact your personal and professional life as everyday tasks become difficult and frustrating.

The term was coined in the 1970s by psychologist Herbert Freudenberger, who defined burnout as "a state of mental and physical exhaustion resulting from professional activity." The World Health Organization describes burnout as “a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed,” while the Mayo Clinic defines burnout as “a state of physical or emotional exhaustion that is also accompanied by decreased satisfaction and loss of personal identity.” .

It is sometimes difficult to separate burnout from conditions such as chronic stress and emotional exhaustion because each can complement the others, with many of the symptoms of burnout replicating those of psychiatric disorders, especially depression.

One of the hallmarks of burnout is that it is mostly work-related or work-induced. Naturally, emotional burnout also affects personal life, but it develops, as a rule, as a result of professional activities.

Is there any hope? Burnout is not always chronic and can be easily managed and prevented. First of all, you need to understand its cause.

What causes burnout at work?

Job burnout is the result of stress, fatigue and job dissatisfaction.

Unlike stress, burnout can come on unnoticed. You can not guess about its approach until it happens. General job dissatisfaction can lead to exhaustion and vice versa, and when combined with chronic job stress, this can lead to burnout.

Among the types of work-related stress that can lead to burnout, there are several possible candidates. You may feel that you are unable to control your work or workload. At other times, you may feel like you're being controlled over small things and can't handle your own day-to-day activities. This can lead to feelings of helplessness. This also happens in cases where you do not understand what exactly your management expects from you. If you do not understand well what your responsibilities are, or feel that you cannot fulfill yourself in your professional activities or control it, you may develop a burnout syndrome.

Burnout may be related to the nature of the job. Some prefer consistency in work, while others strive for diversity. The realization that the job does not meet your expectations can lead to a sharp decrease in satisfaction levels. You may find your work boring, monotonous, or unenjoyable, or, conversely, too messy or chaotic.

Continuous notifications can interfere with your concentration and make you feel like new requests are coming in from all directions. You have to spend so much time on general issues that it distracts you from your actual duties. Many of us find ourselves spending so much time on non-essential tasks that we have to work late into the night to get the important things done. A heavy workload and overtime work can quickly take their toll.

Even if you usually enjoy your job, the imbalance between work and personal life increases the risk that you will not have the energy to work. You must always find time for your loved ones and yourself and not devote yourself entirely and completely only to work.

Another possible cause of professional burnout can be the realization that you are doing too simple or routine work. When you realize that everything at work is too easy, you become bored or anxious, and boredom itself can be exhausting.

The risk of burnout increases significantly when a person already suffers from mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. It reinforces the negative experiences you already have at work and at home.

If not dealt with properly, burnout can definitely lead to more serious mental problems, so it's important to take action as soon as you notice this problem in yourself or someone you know.

How do I know if I have a burnout syndrome?

If you feel uncharacteristically tired or moody, it may be due to burnout. Of the physical symptoms, you can feel sleepy and weak, as if you have no energy at all. Your immune system can also be reduced, so if you notice that you are getting sick more often, this may also be a sign that you have a burnout syndrome. You may also notice a change in appetite or sleep patterns; headache and soreness in all muscles can also be symptoms of emotional burnout.

On the psychic side, you may be overcome by pessimistic thoughts. You may feel helpless and hopeless, as well as indifferent to the world around you. One of the characteristic symptoms of emotional burnout is the loss of motivation.

Behavioral changes may also occur, such as avoidance of tasks that require extra effort, unwillingness to communicate with anyone, or procrastination. You may also notice that burnout can cause anger and despair in addition to being sad and hopeless, and that you give that despair a negative outlet. In other cases, there may be a complete absence of any emotions - numbness and apathy in relation to both professional and social life.

These are all very serious symptoms that can have a huge impact on both your performance and overall health. This is bad for your colleagues and, of course, for you, but there is hope: emotional burnout can definitely be prevented.

How to identify signs of burnout at work?

You may not immediately recognize some of the hidden symptoms of burnout in colleagues, but you may notice a change in behavior that may be the result of burnout. When it comes to one of the colleagues, he or she may experience a decrease in productivity, being late or not showing up at all.

A decrease in the quality and efficiency of colleagues' work may mean that they have a burnout syndrome. If one of the colleagues has irritability, lack of communication and loss of motivation, it is very likely that this is due to emotional burnout. The inability to cope with work responsibilities and a pronounced change in mentality in recent times may also well indicate emotional burnout.

What to do in case of professional burnout at work?

The symptoms of burnout border on the symptoms of depression, so it is very important to be clear about what is at stake in your case and discuss it with your doctor. Many of us first of all turn to self-diagnosis, but we cannot dwell on it alone.

Despite the similarities, there are many differences between the treatment of burnout and the treatment of depression, so if you are worried that you suffer from one of these disorders, it is best to contact a psychotherapist who, using techniques such as the Maslach burnout questionnaire, can Specifically identify your problem and the most effective way to solve it.

It is very important to openly share your feelings with management. The only way to get help from others is to tell them that you need their help. Don't be afraid to reach out to colleagues and tell them about your problems, because in the end it will be better not only for you, but also for your colleagues and the company as a whole.

If burnout is affecting the quality of your work, isn't the company interested in helping you deal with it? Therefore, if you tell management that you are burnt out, this should not be seen as an admission of defeat or a sign of weakness. It is simply a problem that must be solved to ensure both your well-being and the achievement of the company's goals.

Burnout can be caused by overwork, underutilization, or general job dissatisfaction, but this problem cannot be resolved without discussion with management. Such a step may seem shameful or unpleasant, but the right leader and a serious company will meet your halfway and will strive to help you solve these issues.

A person should feel that he is comfortable at work, that he is supported and appreciated. If you can't say that about your job, you need to take action and report your concerns.

First of all, you must manage your energy and time, which means that you must eat right, drink enough fluids, exercise regularly and get enough sleep. Perhaps in order to return to normal, you just need to adjust your habits to ensure that all these conditions are met.

If you think that burnout has affected one of your colleagues, do not be afraid to tell them about it. Talk to them about what they are experiencing, what they think might be causing the problem, and what is needed to fix it. In many cases, a short break and recovery may be enough, but in some cases, additional efforts will be required to ensure that a colleague can feel comfortable and enjoy their work. If you are not prepared to create positive change that will keep your team members happy, it will eventually lead you to much bigger problems.

How to Avoid Burnout

If the very thought of having to work causes anxiety and worry, you may already be suffering from burnout at work.

Among the most typical causes of burnout is an increase in chaos and disorder at work, or a work environment that interferes with concentration. One of the easiest ways to prevent burnout is to use systems and infrastructure that help create the most efficient and organized environment for the team as a whole and for you personally.

Disorganization in a team or company can lead to chaos and the inability to keep everything in one's head. Any company is a mechanism consisting of many moving elements, where everything must work smoothly. A logical and organized environment for office and remote work contributes to a more efficient and manageable work environment. Reducing clutter in the information space can be critical to providing you with the energy you need to focus on important tasks.

Dropbox is a one-stop way to stay in control and reduce stress and clutter at work with organizational tools, intuitive file syncing systems, and practical cloud storage solutions. In a smart workspace, where all applications, platforms and data are concentrated in one interface, it is much easier to be constantly aware of everything.

As a manager, it is your responsibility to ensure that employees feel comfortable and comfortable sharing their concerns about their job and the team at large. Employees often burn themselves out because they think it's easier to ignore a problem than to try to solve it. Management should always strive to create conditions for employees not to be afraid to openly and honestly share problems. The beginning of such interaction between you and the team will in turn lead to increased productivity and employee satisfaction, because they will know that they are heard and respected.

Preventing burnout on a personal level means that you need to manage your own time rationally, which in turn entails a number of simple but absolutely essential things for health, including adequate sleep and a healthy lifestyle, as well as an open and honest discussion of all problems, that arise at work. We must not forget that self-care is fundamental to personal and collective success.

If you notice that things are starting to go downhill, change the pace, but don't stop right away. If you allow yourself to slow down too much, things can only get worse. So if you see burnout approaching, take action and be careful not to go into an emergency full shutdown. Rest can be a great solution, but it's not always possible. First of all, you should definitely discuss the problem with management and find out if something can be done quickly to improve the working environment and your mental state.

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