Burnout and the SLP

Before the school year ended, I was driving to work when I heard on the radio that burnout is now a disease that doctors can now diagnose. It intrigued me so much that I’ve been doing some research on my own about it. This is the article that the people on the radio were talking about.

According to the World Health Organization, burnout is now included in the ICD-11 as an “occupational phenomenon,” not a medical condition. It is described as “feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion, increased mental distance from one’s job, feelings of negativism related to one’s job, and reduced professional efficacy.”

So now that it can be diagnosed, my question is how do you handle it from there? It’s not like you can have your doctor write a prescription for a lower caseload or less paperwork (but that would be nice). I’m wondering if more people will be going out on medical leave. From everything I’ve read, the most important thing to do is recognize the signs that you’re starting to experience burnout and make changes in order to prevent it from getting worse.

From a personal standpoint, I have not experienced true burnout. I do believe I’ve come close. I had two years in two different jobs immediately after completing my CF year that I was not a happy camper at all. Upon completing a year in both situations, I chose to get out. Thankfully, I had the option and ability to do so, but I know that’s not always the case.

There are some personality traits that make you more susceptible to burnout. According this HelpGuide.org, these include perfectionism, the need to be in control, and Type A personalities. Hmmm…I’m three for three there.

I’ve been reading a lot about what to do once you’ve recognized that you’re experiencing burnout. Some of these things include: reaching out to others for help, creating balance, setting boundaries, and finding ways to relax.

For me, I make it a priority to exercise pretty much everyday. I also have found a creative outlet in blogging and creating products, which I usually find relaxing. I also read and spend time with my daughter and husband. I’ve blogged about this before, but since becoming a mom, boundaries are super important to me. I no longer bring my laptop home unless I absolutely have to. When contract hours are over, I’m immediately in mom mode. I agree to come in for 8am meetings (which is 20 minutes before I actually have to be there), but I say I’m not available after school so I can get my daughter from daycare.

The bottom line here is that burnout is a real thing. It’s not something made up. Just like mental health, it needs to be taken seriously. So let’s start talking about it more!

Have you experienced burnout? What did you do about it?