31 August 2021 | Emotional Exhaustion | Jessie Heng
2020 & 2021 have been full of uncertain changes, adjustments and traumas, bringing out strong emotions and stressors one after another, making many of us feeling trap, irritable, lack of motivation and struggle to concentrate even daily routines. You may not know what causes it and you may be experiencing emotional exhaustion.
So, what is emotional exhaustion? When stress begins to accumulate from negative or challenging events in life that just keep coming, you can find yourself in a state of feeling emotionally stuck, worn out and drained. This is called emotional exhaustion. It includes emotional, physical and performance symptoms.
Emotional symptoms includes:
- Anxiety,
- Apathy,
- Depression,
- Feeling hopeless,
- Feeling powerless or trapped,
- Irritability,
- Lack of motivation,
- Nervousness,
- Tearfulness
Physical symptoms include:
- Fatigue,
- Headaches,
- Lack of appetite,
- Sore muscles or muscle tension
Performance symptoms include:
- Failing to meet deadlines,
- Lower workplace commitment,
- More absences,
- Performing work duties more slowly
Emotional exhaustion can be treated by recognizing the stressors you are able to minimize or eliminate. When you are unable to change a stressor because it is out of your control, it is important to focus on the present moment. In your present, there are many neutral or positive events occurring. When you focus on these types of events, it gives a better perspective about what is happening around you.
Stress often is interpreted as a threat to survival. When this happens, it increases the release of stress hormones from your brain, further contributing to your experience of emotional exhaustion. When you are able to focus on small neutral or positive events, your brain is able to understand that the threat is not as dire as it may first seem. The amount of stress hormone released is significantly reduced so you are able to feel more emotionally balanced.
Talk with a mental health provider if you believe that you are suffering from emotional exhaustion and need further professional assistance. They can help you sort through the causes and symptoms you are experiencing to determine a plan that will help you regain a sense of well-being.
You may schedule an appointment with us, call or WhatsApp us at 89444928 to discuss about your Emotional Exhaustion.
*Reference: Partial Abstract from “Emotional Exhaustion during times of unrest” by J. Wickham, Mayo Clinic