Home » Health & Wellness  » Alternative healing » STRESS - The Burnout Phenomenon It's not very seldom we hear the words, "... there's simply too much work to do, and no one else can do it but me". You work and drive yourself so hard that before you realise, you're emotionally, psychologically or physically exhausted!

When under severe stress, you fail to take clear-cut decisions, re-evaluate priorities and lifestyles, engage in reckless risk-taking behaviours and ultimately fall into unproductive distractions. This is a classic case of 'burnout'. Starting from glamour and sport celebrities to common men, 'burnouts' are found everywhere.

You are at risk of a Burnout, if..

• you find it difficult to say 'no' to additional commitments or responsibilities.
• you have been under intense and sustained pressure for some time.
• your high standards make it difficult to delegate to assistants.
• you have been trying to achieve too much for too long.
• you have been giving too much emotional support for too long.

If you're in danger of a Burnout, then..

• re-evaluate your goals and prioritise them.
• evaluate demands placed on you and see how they fit your goals.
• identify your ability to comfortably meet these demands.
• if people demand too much emotional energy, become more unapproachable and less sympathetic. Involve others in a supportive role. Acknowledge your own humanity: remember you've a right to pleasure and relaxation.
• learn stress management skills.
• identify stressors in your life, such as work, or family. Take the support of friends, family or even counselling.
• ensure that you are following a healthy lifestyle - get adequate sleep and rest to maintain energy levels; ensure a healthy, balanced diet; limit your caffeine and alcohol intake; recognize your spiritual needs buried under the mires of worldly pursuits!
• develop alternative activities & hobbies that help you relax.

If already Burned Out, you should..

[..Burnout manifests itself in reduction of motivation, volume and quality of performance, or in dissatisfaction with departure from the activity altogether.]

• take some time off the activity you do not want to do.
• switch to another area of activity and come back later - you may start to enjoy the work again, but if you've absolutely lost interest then it'd be best to drop it altogether.
• take support & counselling of near and dear ones.
• go in for meditation, yoga, sports activities, aerobics etc., to help relax & there by help reorganise your priorities.
• take help of a good psychologist esp. if you feel deeply de-motivated or disenchanted with your job or life.

The Survival Sutras

[..Stress is an integral part of life, which is constantly subject to change. Since you don't want to perish under it, adhere to the bottom line for survivaladapt.]

• Even if you feel secured in a habituated life, remember, changing with the times makes your position more secure. Today's business climate demands, you continually be prepared for changes to avoid stress and survive the competitive world..
• Find and protect whatever time you get to refresh, re-energize and re-motivate. Spending quality time with your family is an excellent source of emotional and moral support..
• Avoid giving in to alcohol, smoking and other substance abuses..
• Develop positive attitudes towards stressful life-situations. Give up negative mental traits such as fear, anger and revengeful attitudes that actually germinate stress..
• Reduce workplace stress by celebrating yours or your colleagues' accomplishments..
• Adapting to demands of stress also means changing your personality. Improve your line of communication, efficiency and learn from other's experiences..
• Don't be complacent. Be prepared for any change physically, emotionally and financially..

The Homeopathic STRESS-BUSTERS

By virtue of its capability of altering human emotions positively, Homeopathy works as an excellent stress-buster and there by as a preventive and curative to the Burnout phenomenon.. A detailed analysis by a competent Homeopath, followed by a systematic treatment will pull you out of the deep waters before you drown in the unavoidable stress filled world. The following suggestions based on a generalised study could be helpful -

Preventives: These would help you cope better by reducing the build up of negative energies due to the day to day physical & mental stress & strain, work overload, humiliating situations etc. etc..
STAPHYSAGRIA 200 - weekly once.
NUX VOMICA 30 + GELSEMIUM 30 - 3'pills each twice daily on rest of the days.

Curatives: When you feel Burned out, ie. Totally de-motivated, dejected, confused, exhausted etc. the following medicines could remove the dark clouds from your mind & bring back the sunshine in your life..
SILICEA 200 - 3'pills every 10'days.
ANACARDIUM 30 - daily morning.
ACID PHOS 30 - daily night.