Stress: Are You Burned Out?

Many people may confuse the symptoms of burnout with depression, but depression and burnout have very different effects on the body. Depression is

associated with high levels of cortisol, a hormone secreted by the body in response to stress, whereas burnout is atually linked to low cortisol levels. The issue here is that people often visit their doctor with symptoms of burnout, and as there are similarities, they are subsequently treated for depression - given antidepressants that only lower their cortisol levels even further. This does not treat the problem and only makes burnout worse.

While stres is unavoidable, burnout is. Remember that the mind and body are intrinsically connected, and that stress and the physical inflammation it causes can ravage the body and age you before your time. Identify the symptoms of burnout and learn new ways to keep a meltdown at bay.

Symptom #1: EMOTIONAL EXHAUSTION

This symptom presents with thefeeling of being emotionally drained, as if you feel you've got nothing left to give, even when dealing with the people and relationships that matter to you most.

Symptom #2: DEPERSONALIZATION

You feel mechanical and robotic. It's as if you're just going through the motions to survive the day. You feel as if your normal self has disappeared.

Symptom #3: A SENSE OF DIMINISHED PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT

Chronic stress can result in you feeling that you just can't get anything right. You may feel that you are failing at your job or in your relationships. You've become very hard on yourself.

Track your stress by determining what is the stressful situation, what thoughts are associated with it, and what physical response results from the stress. Find what relaxes and destresses you then use it, and find someone to talk to at least weekly to be your sounding board.

Aha Moment

On the way to work this morning, I was thinking about what JJ told me Monday night. She said she sees me going down the same road she is traveling. Talk about a frightening thought! I was considering seeing a therapist to help me avoid that road and as I thought about it, I wondered where I would begin? There is so much that is wrong in my world. There is much that is right, but an overwhelming amount of wrong and dysfunction. While pondering this, I realized that I don't exhibit the demeanor of a person suffering from depression. I have been in that deep hole and that is NOT what I feel at this juncture.

Ironically, while looking at my emails this morning I zoned in on a Dr.Oz email about stress. I opened it, took a stress test, and found that I suffer from something closely resembling if not actually, burnout. The symptoms are what I have felt for a very long time and could never name. I am happy to know that I can at least mull this over and possibly name this dragon that is waging war with me. It is difficult to fight what is unidentified. Glad I found this before someone placed me on antidepressants! That could have exascerbated my existing symptoms.

Sickies

My life is full of sick people. People I love, but who through their sickness are making me sick. They are family, friends, loved ones, people who are integrally attached to me, so I can't get rid of them.
Hope I can keep my sanity until they all get theirs back in place. : )

He Told Me He Loves Me

Mark the date and time. April 19, 2011 at precisely 9:45 p.m. It is the first time in all my 50 years on this earth that I recall my father telling me, singularly that he loves me.

Once, at Mama and Daddy's 50th wedding anniversary tea, he told all of us that he loved all his children, but that was because we had encircled him and told him we were not letting him go until he said it. Left a little to be desired, rest assured. It was not the individual "I love you, Laura" that I had needed so desperately to hear for the most of my life. It was a generalized cover statement that rang rather empty in my heart.

A week or so ago, my children came home from visiting the grands and happily announced that Granddaddy stated that he loved the girls in reply to each of their expression of love for him. I was very happy for that and am appreciative of his willingness to do that for them.

His expression of love for me last night was sincere and given freely, but how sad that it took him 50 years and a diagnosis of terminal cancer to be able to say those three little words. Have yet to hear him say "I am sorry" or "I was wrong" and honestly, I never expect he will. Needless to say, although I appreciate hearing that lovely phrase come from his lips and know it originated in his heart, it still leaves me feeling somewhat empty. It is just too little, too late. It would have meant so very much more had I heard it all my life instead of at the time of his impending death.

In spite of my struggle to battle it, bitterness abounds. That is the saddest part of my daddy's passing. That I can't seem to muster what it takes to just push through the bitterness and forgive his shortcomings. In my head, I know the rational thing is to accept and be grateful for whatever I am given, but in my heart there is still the hurt little girl who is afraid to let go of the tight control of her emotions for fear of being shattered. A part of me knows that with unleashed emotion comes all the pain, joy, fear, anger, love, etc. and I am not sure I am able to come through that deluge intact. It feels safer to keep a distance and more importantly to keep control. My head knows that is not the best venue for healing, but my heart is unsure of doing anything other and time is running out.

This end of life thing has been no picnic for any of us and is complicated by all this baggage that I wish could be dealt with before the end comes. I just don't know if I can dredge up the courage to tackle it before it is too late.

Let Love Lead

I read a friend's blogpost and it was all about doing more out of love. I won't go into depth, you can imagine what was there, but the phrase caught me up in it.

Let love lead. If love is what I project first and foremost, if love is what prompts me to do what I do, if love is the motivation behind my actions...that is Christ-like.

I hope to Let Love Lead me in all I say and in all I do. I am really going to try, so if you see anything else leading me, please just utter the phrase,

"Let love lead."

You have my permission. (smile)

God is on Your Side
"The Lord will fight for you." Exodus 14:14

I read these words and draw in a deep breath. I need them right now. Don't we all? Oh, we may not go to war.
But we fight...
for relationships
for dreams
We battle...
against illness
against discouragement
I think of you staring at the screen, perhaps feeling your strength is small. Oh, yes, I know what that's like.
But victory isn't up to us.
And those words you sometimes hear?
"You're not worth fighting for."
They're a lie. Nothing more.
This is the truth from the heart of One who calls you His own:
You are loved.
You are worth fighting for.
You are even worth dying for.
So go into your day, strong friend, knowing that nothing can defeat you.
You've already won.

by Holley Gerth, DaySpring Writer

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