How to recover from burnout and love your life again

Burnout is a state when we are so stressed that we have exceeded all our limits. The symptoms are constant fatigue, the feeling that you are alone in the world, you have a negative view of everything, you doubt yourself, you are irritable, you procrastinate and you need much more time to do what you used to do with ease. Burnout is a red alarm, a warning that you should stop and rest, but not everyone listens, nor does everyone have that luxury, but continues to work even after burnout.

Then the next level of fatigue is reached, which significantly affects the body's functions - it is allostatic load. In a world that values ​​productivity above all else - this is not a rare case at all. Many are already working on the border of burnout, or have already crossed it. And this is something that has come to be considered normal - to live with chronic fatigue. When you are exposed to high stress for a long time, it is no longer just fatigue, it begins to have drastic effects on the functioning of the body.

The body tends to be in homeostasis - to maintain body temperature and a sufficient amount of fluid, as well as various other vital states. When the body is under high levels of stress for a long time, it can have serious pathological consequences. Stress directly affects the metabolic, cardiovascular, neuroendocrine, and immune systems. Prolonged exposure to stressful situations activates the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for dealing with stressful situations. It is clear - it is not good for the body to be constantly in this state.

What are the consequences? Allostatic load means that you are not able to think properly, you cannot make rational decisions, you have a bad memory, sudden mood swings, you constantly worry, you sleep poorly and you have nightmares. 

Bad lifestyle habits, such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, poor sleep, and lack of physical activity aggravate the additional load. Allostatic load, according to research, is associated with various socio-economic factors, namely: lower economic class, lower education, age, childhood abuse and trauma from childhood, and jobs that involve high daily stress.

This condition is dangerous for the body because it affects health and can cause various diseases, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, premature menopause, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic migraines, cancer, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), psychotic disorders.

How is allostatic load treated?

This is not a condition you just need to take a pill for, nor can it be cured in a few days or weeks of sick leave. A person with this workload needs months of rest and, above all, a change in lifestyle, finding a balance between work and private life. The first step is to understand what creates the most stress in your life and remove as many sources of stress as possible.

There is no magic solution to help you get out of this situation, you have to put your health first. Change what is up to you - such as introducing physical activity into your everyday life, quitting smoking and alcohol, eating healthier, finding time for yourself, and sleeping regularly. It will not be easy at all, because we need to get used to each change, but after some time you will notice that you feel better. Take care of yourself as if you were your own child.

Post by: Rinna James