Signs of Emotional Exhaustion

Emotional Exhaustion is a key indicator of burnout. It both happens when we are feeling burned out and can lead to feeling burned out. This exhaustion can stem from any number of things and is usually a result of long term stresses Emotional exhaustion can be hard to catch as it can look like other issues. so here we’ll provide a list of symptoms that indicate you may be emotionally exhausted.

Anger or Irritability

Feeling we have a shorter fuse than usual can be a sign of emotional exhaustion. You might not have the patience you did with work, your partner, your kids, even yourself. This is often interpreted as a personal failing so it’s important to note it can be a sign of feeling exhausted and simply not having the resources to handle additional stress.

Feeling Overwhelmed

You may feel overwhelmed, like you just don’t know how it keep up with everything. Even if you do know how, you may be unable to implement it as what felt doable before might feel extremely taxing now. This can sometimes get us into thought loops where we judge ourselves for not being able to handle the issue which then adds to our stress and makes us feel more overwhelmed.

Difficulty Concentrating

Coupling with the overwhelmed feeling is a decreased ability to concentrate. It feels like we can handle and remember less, work slower, and want to avoid whatever is stressing us.

Difficulty Sleeping

Sleep issues are common when we are feeling emotionally exhausted. You might have a hard time going to sleep or staying asleep. This can feel like it happens for no reason or may be accompanied with thoughts of the stress. Having a high cognitive workload is often linked with these difficulties.

Increased Substance Use

When feeling constant stress our bodies want a way to avoid the stress and one of the methods we sometimes use is drinking or other substances. Notice your own habits and if you have started drinking or using substances more or use them as a way to deal with stress. While it may not be causing problems now, this can often turn into destructive habits if not addressed.

Decreased Motivation

Lowered motivation and feelings of depression often accompany emotional exhaustion. We might find that we are having a harder time engaging in hobbies, spending time with family and friends, or exercising. By engaging in these activities less the feelings of stress and exhaustion tend to increase which can result in a vicious cycle.

Physical Pains

The mind and body are intrinsically linked and as a result our body often feels the effects of mental exhaustion. You might notice this in increased headaches, back pains, neck pains, general soreness. You may also notice a change in appetite, eating more or less than you used to or not being able to maintain a healthy diet you were previously keeping up with.

Increased Anxiety

Constant worry can occur when feeling exhausted. We not only worry about the initial stress causing our exhaustion, but everything else. All the other symptoms above tend to exacerbate this worry by generally decreasing our well being and giving us more to worry about.

What Can I Do if I’m Emotionally Exhausted?

First, recognize that being emotionally exhausted is not a failing. Recognizing it can sometimes result in negative self talk, but noticing it means that we have more insight into ourselves and have a chance to take a different approach. Try and figure out where your exhaustion is coming from. It can be from work, school, family, chores, large life events, or a lot of small things that add up over time. After discovering where your exhaustion is coming from, see if there are ways you can take a different approach to that area of your life. For example, taking more breaks at work, finding more time for self care, being easier on yourself about expectations. There are many other options as there are a lot of causes of exhaustion.

If you are having a hard time identifying what is causing your exhaustion, or can’t find anything reasonable to alleviate it, that’s okay. It’s far easier said than done and often takes time to dive inside ourselves as well as create new patterns and approaches. If this rings true to you and you’re seeking help in this process, you can schedule a free consultation at http://www.burnoutpreventiontherapy.com and we’ll be happy to help you.