Holistic Psychiatry 101: Tips to Overcome Burnout
How do we truly know difference between burnout, situational stress, depression, or anxiety? The reality is that these psychological states can intermingle, and it can be a challenge to tell where one ends and another begins. The telltale burnout symptom that people report is a gradual sense of overwhelm that can build over months or years, until each day seems stressful and anxiety inducing. It’s important to know that burnout does not always exist in a vacuum. It can mark the beginning of a depression and anxiety spiral without the proper treatment and support.
Here are some simple, holistic psychiatry strategies to prevent burnout.
Listen to your body.
Take a pause in moments of overwhelm or stress. Close your eyes and try to identify where you hold that tension in your body. Perhaps you tend to be tense in your shoulders and neck. Direct your mindful attention to the sensations in your body as stress takes hold and try progressive muscle relaxation to get ahead of anxiety before it overwhelms.
Start your day by speaking kindly to yourself.
What is the first thing you do upon waking up in the morning, but before getting out of bed? If it involves checking the clock or sneaking a peak at your smartwatch or phone, you’re not alone. Try taking three slow breaths, thinking of one thing you are grateful for, and breathing out a cheerful “good morning” to set the joyous tone for the day.
Harness the healing power of hydrotherapy.
Water has been used as a form of medicine for centuries. Have you ever noticed how refreshed and rejuvenated you feel after a cool glass of water on a hot day, or a warm bath after a long day? This is how water can soothe the mind and body. Water does its work by stimulating and massaging the body and skin. The easiest way to do this is to practice mindful moments where we pay attention to water as it passes through our fingers. The other option is to luxuriate in a warm bath. If you’re really feeling fancy you can spice your bath up with aromatherapy, rose petals, minerals, or essential oils.
These are just a few preventative strategies to find emotional release in moments you feel burnout, anxiety, or overwhelm taking hold in your daily life. Ultimately, the feelings of anxiety, lack of motivation, helplessness, unprocessed trauma, and/or relationship struggles that may come along with burnout might require professional help. If you do find yourself spending at least an hour a day worrying or distracted by mental health symptoms, it might be time to reach out to a healthcare professional to address the root cause.