Mental Health and Doctors: Addressing Burnout and Promoting Well-Being

It is advisable to find a doctor that you can trust and talk to about anything, especially when it comes to suffering from burnout and addressing your mental health, wellness and well-being. Burnout can be a debilitating experience. For those who suffer through it, it can become difficult to cope with life, daily responsibilities and live in an effective, healthy way. While burnout is not always recognised by general practitioners (GPs) as a mental disorder, it is closely related to mental health and your general well-being.

In this article, the professional healthcare providers at Intercare Medical and Dental Clinics will address burnout and discuss how we can assist you with your mental health and well-being. But first, let us explore what burnout is.

What Your Doctor Will Say About Burnout

Your doctor will tell you that burnout is a state of either physical or emotional exhaustion (or both) that involves a sense of not accomplishing anything and a feeling of losing your personal identity. It is often related to increased levels of stress or added responsibilities at work or life in general that make you feel like there is too much on your plate and you need to escape.

Mental Health and Doctors

What is the Difference Between Emotional and Physical Burnout?

A skilled doctor will report that typically, burnout is divided into two main groups, emotional and physical. These two main categories present themselves in different ways.

Emotional Burnout: If you are feeling a sense of hopelessness, decreased professional or personal satisfaction, feelings of being trapped or a loss of motivation and a sense of failure, you may be suffering from emotional burnout. This will have a negative effect on your mental health and emotional well-being.
Physical Burnout: An individual’s body can only take so much strain before it breaks down. If you are feeling pain, experiencing difficulty sleeping or other physical side effects from putting too much stress on your body, you could be suffering from physical burnout.

Although the two types of burnout are completely different, their signs and symptoms often overlap, and it is possible for you to feel both emotionally and physically drained at the same time.

Does Burnout Affect Your Mental Health and Wellness?

Although burnout is not defined as a mental health disorder it can be a cause of other mental health issues and is usually connected with several of them. It would then affect your general health and well-being. However, mental health issues and disorders can cause burnout and it is often associated with conditions such as depression and anxiety. According to a study undertaken by the University of Macedonia, ninety-five percent of patients suffering from these conditions also suffered from either emotional or physical burnout or both.

What Will Your Doctor Tell You Are the 5 Most Common Causes of Burnout?

Student Burnout: While pursuing an education, students can experience burnout because of their tough study schedules and having to adapt to many different things all at once. This is especially true with students that have to work one or two jobs to pay for their studies, partake in sports or other extra-curricular activities or have busy social lives.
Work Burnout: A productive employee can be made into a non-performing one simply by placing too many expectations on them. Employees that have too many responsibilities placed upon them or fill the roles of several positions may suffer from burnout.
Relationship Burnout: Whether it is a romantic relationship, a familial relationship or a close friendship, if it is an emotionally taxing one, it may lead to burnout. Individuals put under continued pressure of maintaining relationships such as these may feel swamped by the stress and constant demands of maintaining it, and this may lead to burnout.
Caretaker Burnout: Individuals that care for someone on top of their normal daily responsibilities are subjected to many additional emotional and physical demands. These can be both stressful and demanding and if not managed correctly, could lead to both physical and emotional burnout.
Mental Health Conditions: As discussed, individuals already struggling with mental health challenges may feel that normal levels of stress can be saturating. Poor emotional health can increase the chances of individuals experiencing burnout, especially those suffering from anxiety or depression.

How Do You Promote Wellness in Your Life to Prevent Burnout?

Trying different things could improve your mental health and well-being. Following a few (or all) of these could assist in making you feel happier and more positive. Live more securely within yourself by trying these five suggestions:

Connect with other People – Good friends, family and other positive relationships are healthy for your well-being and help build a sense of belonging and self-worth.
Exercise Frequently – A healthy lifestyle begins with a healthy diet and daily exercise. It is not only good for your physical health, but it improves your mental well-being.
Learn New Skills – Starting a new hobby or learning new skills help with boosting your self-confidence and raising your self-esteem.
Give of Yourself to Others – Acts of kindness and giving of yourself will create positive feelings and a sense of reward.
Be Mindful of the Present Moment – Pay attention to your thoughts, feelings, your body and the world around you in the present and in the moment. Some call this mindfulness and it can assist in positive change and the way you feel about yourself.

Who to Turn to if You Feel Like You Might be Suffering from Burnout

Having a great relationship with your doctor is a good start. If you do not feel comfortable speaking openly about mental health issues with them, perhaps it is time to find a doctor that might be more accepting of your condition. At Intercare Medical and Dental Clinics, our qualified, professional medical team are trained and prepared to discuss these challenges with you. If you need to find a doctor that can help you in this area of your life, consider reaching out to us.

Conveniently located in many cities and their surrounding suburbs around South Africa, help is at hand. You do not have to go through these emotions, aches and pains on your own. You can meet any one of our doctors at any time or, simply book an online appointment and you can speak freely from the comfort of your home. Contact us for a consultation as soon as possible and let’s get you healthy again. Intercare – Because we care!