Burnout

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Why an overwhelmed nervous system takes over your life and how to reclaim it

If we just keep on going in a frenzied state of busyness, our nervous system eventually gets overwhelmed and we experience a trauma response. This changes how we think, feel and behave, making it difficult for us to carry out tasks or practise self-care strategies like boundary-setting and mindfulness. We lose motivation and interest in things we used to enjoy and become trapped in a state known as learned helplessness, unable to see solutions, sometimes unable to care. We still operate, but in autopilot mode, prone to making mistakes and to toxic behaviour that impacts our professional and personal relationships.

Drawing on polyvagal theory and her professional insights as a trauma therapist working with clients experiencing burnout, Clinical Psychologist Dr Claire Plumbly shares:

- The signs and stages of burnout

- Why it stifles our abilities to interact, make decisions, solve problems or be productive and creative

- Common causes, from using busyness to cope with emotions to perfectionism and the draining impact of monotonous work

- How one burnt out nervous system impacts the nervous systems around it - a phenomenon called co-regulation

- How to work in sympathy with your nervous system and benefit from a healthy level of stress to remain effective

- How compassion supports your nervous system to overcome burnout