Stress and Burnout

Possible Issues

- You and/or your partner are often stressed, irritable and tired.

- You and/or your partner are close to or have already experienced burnout, a feeling that you cannot give any more or cannot cope with any more stress.

- You or your partner feel stuck in your life and work with seemingly no exit.

- The quality of your sex life has deteriorated because you both feel so exhausted.

The Cause

Although it is tempting to blame outside influences such as work pressure for stress, in truth much of the stress and burnout we experience is self-inflicted. We make choices to fill our lives with activity and demands. The busyness can be a way of distracting ourselves from having to deal with underlying insecurities and fears.

We also take on roles, duties and responsibilities because we feel this is the way that people will accept and love us - but these may not be the truth for us, and the stress comes from trying to maintain these by working harder and harder. We are afraid of what people will think of us if we drop the role or fail in our duty. Burnout and nervous breakdown comes when the stress carries on for a long time to the point where our minds tell us one day that we cannot go on like this. It is a wake up call that something is wrong and needs healing.

The Way Through

Relaxation exercises such as yoga and meditation are a great start but unless you get to the underlying issues that are causing the stress in the first place, it will have a tendency to return.

Commitment to the truth for you and the people around you is the key to escaping stress. It is about being really honest with yourself (and encouraging your partner to do the same) so that you begin to deal with the insecurities and fears that have caused you to become independent and think you can do everything yourself, providing you work hard enough. Realise that you are not super-human and can always ask for help.

By being truthful to yourself and discovering your purpose in life (it might be quite different from what you currently do!) you will discover ease rather than stress - you will then do things because you love them, are excited about them and are passionate about them. You will readily ask for help and learn to delegate because your pleasure will come from a sense of partnership.

Perhaps it is time to start building the life you always dreamed of!

Legal Notice - Medical Advice

All advice in this website is given in good faith and no responsibility can be accepted by the website owners for issues or problems that occur as a consequence of using the website content. If you have any concerns about your psychological health you are advised to contact a doctor other suitably qualified medical/psychiatric practioner.

© P.J.Granger 2007

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