In the modern world, we face constant stressors that leave us in a continual state of stress. Stress can lead to mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion. Emotional exhaustion is an invisible enemy. A person suffering from it will often not know how to articulate how they are feeling. Emotional exhaustion will creep in and affect every part of their lives, eventually leading to burnout.

Emotional exhaustion is an invisible enemy

In 1982 Christina Maslach coined the term "emotional exhaustion" as part of her definition of burnout. She reasoned that feeling drained or hopeless were not meaningless complaints but part of something that is far more harmful. Symptoms of emotional exhaustion:<ul><li dir = "auto">Lacking motivation</li><li dir = "auto">Difficulty sleeping</li><li dir = "auto">Fatigue</li><li dir = "auto">Irritability</li><li dir = "auto">Unable to focus</li><li dir = "auto">Increased apathy or cynicism</li></ul> These symptoms often seem contradictory. How can you feel tired and have difficulty sleeping?

Key symptoms of emotional exhaustion

As stress will always be part of our lives, we need to find sustainable coping mechanisms to help us effectively deal with emotional exhaustion. Strategies include:<ul><li>Improve sleeping habits. Put down your phone before bed and avoid caffeine in the evening.</li><li>Make time for self-reflection. Taking up journaling can help to manage early symptoms of emotional exhaustion.</li><li>Take a break. Take some time out to recharge, relax, and rethink your goals and relationships with work.</li></ul>

How to deal with emotional exhaustion

The term “emotional exhaustion” describes an overwhelming depletion of a person’s emotional capacity, usually due to stress from the work environment.

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Emotional exhaustion: a leading indicator of burnout

<h2>People can experience depression no matter the age, gender, race, etc. Our society needs to talk about this because there are millions of people suffering from depression. Basically, its not even THAT obvious because people are good at hiding their feelings. In other words, people use their "coping mechanism" for themselves to NOT be ABLE to THINK about their problems.</h2>

Depression IS NOT EASY AND NEVER IS A JOKE

Depression is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Fortunately, it is also treatable.

TW (Trigger Warning)

What Is Depression?

<ul>
<li>According to the International Classification of Diseases, burnout is not a medical condition, while depression is.</li>
<li>Burnout is a combination of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a reduced sense accomplishment specifically related to the workplace.</li>
<li>Burnout is a stepping stone to, but itself distinct from, depression.</li>
</ul>

Burnout ≠ Depression

Self Improvement

Someone who's burnt out might not need an <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/ssris" target="_self">antidepressant</a>. In contrast to someone with depression, someone who's burnt out might not even need to see a mental health professional; they might instead need time away from work or to address their work schedule or have some help managing some stuff in the workplace.However, <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/therapy" target="_self">therapy</a> can help most people, so it can help those with burnout, too.

Burnout And Depression: Different Interventions

They are separate conditions with distinct causes and symptoms.

Burnout Is Not Depression

<ul><li>Migraine is a neurological condition that can cause multiple symptoms. It’s frequently characterized by intense, debilitating headaches. </li><li>Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, difficulty speaking, numbness or tingling, and sensitivity to light and sound. </li><li>Migraines often run in families and affect all ages. Migraines can begin in childhood or may not occur until early adulthood. Women are more likely than men to have migraines.&nbsp;</li><li>Family history is one of the most common risk factors for having migraines.</li><li>Migraines are different from other headaches.</li></ul>

What is a migraine?

Health

<ul><li>The prodrome stage (one to two days before the headache itself): food cravings, depression, fatigue or low energy, frequent yawning, hyperactivity, irritability, neck stiffness.</li><li>In migraine with aura: during an aura, you may have problems with your vision, sensation, movement, and speech.&nbsp;</li><li>The attack phase. This is the most acute or severe of the phases when the actual migraine pain occurs: sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, dizziness or feeling faint, pain on one side of your head, pulsing and throbbing head pain, vomiting.&nbsp;</li><li>The postdrome phase. During this phase, there are usually changes in mood and feelings. A mild, dull headache may persist.</li></ul>

Migraine symptoms


Researchers haven’t identified a definitive cause for migraines. However, they have found some contributing factors that can trigger the condition.&nbsp;<ul><li>This includes changes in brain chemicals, such as a decrease in levels of the brain chemical <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/serotonin" target="_self">serotonin</a>.</li><li>Other factors that may trigger a migraine include bright lights, severe heat, or other extremes in weather, <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/dehydration-headache" target="_self">dehydration</a>, <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/hormonal-headaches" target="_self">hormone changes</a>, excess stress, loud sounds, <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/migraine/exercise-induced-migraines" target="_self">intense physical activity</a>, skipping meals, changes in sleep patterns, use of certain medications, smoking, alcohol use, etc.</li></ul>

What causes migraines?

<h2>Migraines can’t be cured, but your doctor can help you <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/headache-management" target="_self">manage them</a> so you get them less often and treat symptoms when they occur.</h2><h2>A treatment plan may include a combination of self-care <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/natural-ways-to-reduce-migraines" target="_self">migraine remedies</a>, lifestyle adjustments, including <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/stress-management" target="_self">stress management</a> and <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/migraine-triggers-and-how-to-avoid-them" target="_self">avoiding migraine triggers</a>, OTC pain or migraine medications, prescription <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/migraine-drugs" target="_self">migraine medications</a>, prescription medications to help with nausea or vomiting, hormone therapy if migraines seem to occur <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/migraine/migraine-during-period" target="_self">in relation to your menstrual cycle</a>, counseling and alternative care, which may include <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/biofeedback" target="_self">biofeedback</a>, <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/types-of-meditation" target="_self">meditation</a>, acupressure, or <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/acupuncture-for-headaches" target="_self">acupuncture</a>.</h2>

Migraine treatment

Here’s what you need to know about migraine types, symptoms, triggers, and treatments as well as how they’re different from regular headaches.

Everything You Want to Know About Migraine

<ul><li>Set SMALL AND SPECIFIC GOALS&nbsp;that will not make you feel anxious and overwhelmed.</li><li>Practice self-compassion.&nbsp;Try to use the same encouraging words you might use for a friend or loved one.</li><li>Recruit support, or ask for help&nbsp;to hold you to your commitment.</li><li>Envision how you'll feel after the task.&nbsp;</li><li>Make the goal to do it, not to enjoy it.</li><li>Acknowledge your courage for stepping out of your comfort zone.</li></ul>

Get Motivated

A common response to identifying lifestyle changes that might make a depressed person feel better is, "Easier said than done." Someone coping with depression may get what she's supposed to do, but the question is how? After all, depression kills motivation, energy, interest, and focus.

frustration

Emotional exhaustion is an invisible enemy

Emotional exhaustion: a leading indicator of burnout

Depression IS NOT EASY AND NEVER IS A JOKE

What Is Depression?