Topic Tuesday // Burnout // 24 Jan. 7pm AEDT

[NikNik]

Hi everyone,

The busy holiday period is over, which usually means it's time that burn out can hit us.

During this Topic Tuesday we look at the warning signs of burnout and how we can manage it.

Join @Former-Member from 7pm AEDT 

Three things you can do now

1) Hit 'Like' below to get an email reminder on the night

2) Read our blog about Burn Out

3) Can't make the session? Leave your question below.

[Shaz51]

Hello @Former-Member xx

leave your question here for tonight @Former-Member

and you can get all the emails about tonight

[Shaz51]

Hello @PeppiPatty

sending you a reminder for tonight my special friend xx

[Former-Member]

Welcome to tonight’s Topic Tuesday where we’ll be discussing burnout and compassion fatigue in the carer role.

I’d like to welcome all those who RSVP'd @Anony18, @Frangipani, @Shaz51, @plumbum, @crazy, @Tanoozle, @Princess,  @Indigo71 and @Uggy78.  Everyone else is of course welcome to join the dicussion.

This is a topic I can strongly relate to from a professional standpoint – as a Psychologist it only took me 3 years to burnout and that experience taught me lessons that I still apply today.

For me burnout was most evident as an emotional numbness and physical exhaustion.  I started spending large amounts of the weekend in bed just to recover enough to start again on Monday.  Of course, that’s a luxury that most carers don’t have.  I wasn’t even really aware of the emotional numbing until a friend pointed out that I didn’t respond to things normally anymore.  That woke me up.

But even then I didn’t change anything.  Just as carer can feel without a choice, I felt obligated to keep going.  To turn up for work everyday knowing that I’d come home just a little bit more harmed.  It accumulated to the point that I became physically ill.  My body stopped me moving which gave my heart and mind a chance to recuperate.

I had the luxury of stepping away – taking a different job for a few years until I was ready to return.  Most carers can’t do that.  So the real challenge then becomes how to balance things to keep burnout at bay and what to do if you feel that you’re already there. 

That’s what tonight is about and so I’d love to hear about your experiences.  

• Are you experiencing burnout or have you in the past?
• What was/is that like?
• What strategies have you tried so far and how have they worked out?

[Shaz51]

Hello @Former-Member 

[Former-Member]

Hi @Shaz51, how're you today?

[Tanoozle]

Hi, this is my first forum, is this where im meant to write to participate?

[Shaz51]

I have the Flu , so I have had 2 rest days so far -- not feeling good @Former-Member

But back to tonight

I have been feeling numb lately and not doing what I usually do , hubby thinks I might need some meds to help me

or could it be a start of carer burnout

[Former-Member]

Welcome @Tanoozle, yes you've posted in exactly the right place.  You just need to remember to keep refreshing your screen so you see new posts.

How're you tonight?  Is this a topic you can relate to?

[Appleblossom]

I think in my case I wasnt fully conscious of my burn out and my strategies .. but I finally have the luxury of hindsight.

Yes I did move away from triggering harmful influences when I recognised them .. but I was slow to do that due to complexity of early socialisation.

Yes I did use protective measures .. one pdoc said I "had walls around me" .. probably my body knew better than I did.

Yes I did forgive but that is not always the answer.

Hi @Tanoozle @Shaz51 & @Former-Member