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Everyone has days when it seems like nothing is worth the effort, but when every day feels like hopeless drudgery, you may be on the road to burnout. Fortunately, recovery is possible, and massage therapy can help.
Recognizing Burnout
Burnout is a state of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion caused by a prolonged period of constant, unrelenting stress. You may face burnout when you become overwhelmed with too many responsibilities or feel unable to meet demands. As your stress increases, you lose your motivation and interest. You may feel that nothing you do is ever enough or that you are simply spinning your wheels while no one notices or appreciates your efforts. While burnout is commonly associated with work, it can also occur at home when relationships become strained or family roles change.
Burnout is a state of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion caused by a prolonged period of constant, unrelenting stress. You may face burnout when you become overwhelmed with too many responsibilities or feel unable to meet demands. As your stress increases, you lose your motivation and interest. You may feel that nothing you do is ever enough or that you are simply spinning your wheels while no one notices or appreciates your efforts. While burnout is commonly associated with work, it can also occur at home when relationships become strained or family roles change.
What Does Burnout Feel Like?
1. You’ve become short-tempered or impatient in situations that would not normally cause this behavior
2. You suffer unusual, vague aches and pains or other unexplained symptom
3 Your daily tasks seem either boring or overwhelming.
4. You feel physically or mentally tired despite adequate rest.
5. You’ve lost interest in a job or relationship you once cherished.
6. Your eating habits have become unhealthy, or you’ve lost your appetite.
7. Days seem identical or predictable.
Mechanical and Chemical Burnout Symptoms
Like stress from other causes, the long-term stress that leads to burnout has both physical and biochemical components. Muscle tension leads to burning pain in the shoulders, neck and back. Migraines, digestive problems, poor sleep quality and inadequate circulation are common. The excessive release of stress hormones such as cortisol and epinephrine has far-reaching negative effects on your health.
How Massage Therapy Aids in Burnout Recovery
Professional massage therapy combats burnout in several ways. It breaks the cycle of monotony with a soothing, relaxing experience that includes both skillful tissue manipulation for pain relief and the power of human touch to help ease emotional discomfort. An experienced massage therapist can loosen tight bands of connective tissue and work out knots or adhesions that cause chronic pain. Massage also improves circulation, heart rate and blood pressure. It’s been proven to improve sleep quality.
Massage can even counteract the effects of stress hormones and flood the body with the feel-good chemical serotonin, which eliminates stress and produces a profound feeling of calmness and satisfaction. Relieving physical pain and emotional distress can help the burnout victim feel re-energized and ready to take on their old role with renewed stamina. If your job, family role or other circumstances have left you feeling like there’s just no end in sight, don’t worry; there is.
Schedule a home massage today!