Posted by Benjamin Tang on July 12, 1998, at 5:42:16
In reply to Re: Burnout, posted by Buffalo on July 9, 1998, at 12:40:39
> > > > > What has setting/boundaries and assertiveness
> > > > > has to do with burnout ?> > > Being in a drift mood ?
> > > Wanting to be a drifter today.> > Well, it seems like assertiveness is kind of the
> > opposite to being in a drift mood, then...> > Bob
> I feel I can weigh in here with some authority, because I experienced severe burnout, in the form of severe depression, as a result of ignoring the signs that I was giving myself every day. I was in situation that horrified and frightened me (working as a psychotherapist with inmates in a jail setting), and I ignored both my feelings about the setting and the work, but also the fact that I was in a highly abusive situation re: my employers. I was just determined to ignore all input and do the job, dammit. I suffered a breakdown more than a year ago that took me more than a year to recover from- to the extent that i'm recovered now. What I have to tell you is this: Pay Attention to your feelings. Don't continue to do what you hate doing. Don't let others abuse you out of fear. There are worse things, believe me. We don't need to be unhappy for money; we just think we do. That's my opinion, anyway. Good luck! -B
I have also experienced some difficulty w/ burnout. I am a mature student who is in college in HOng KOng for the first time and in the latter part of my first-year second semester experienced an exhaustion period. I think it was a typical burnout case. I felt unmotivated to do my studies, worried a lot, had guilt about everything, and was depressed. I think, now in retrospect, that stress, or stressors, had a lot to do w/ my burnout. I wonder what Dr Bob has to say about how to deal positively w/ stress in everyday life and how to prevent it from escalating into a burnout.My experience in the recent months was that I prayed a lot, did a little exercise (strictly speaking not enough, w/ only about 25 minutes a week), and generally eased up on my emotional demands. NOw, w/ school over for a year, I seem to be back on a normal mood, and able to experience the joy of everyday living. I suspect that my religion, that unseen, untangible psychological force, has helped me a lot.
Benjamin
poster:Benjamin Tang
thread:77
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19980801/msgs/127.html