Fighting the Feelings of Tiredness, Loneliness, and Stress

You’ve probably heard the term “emotional exhaustion” a couple of times in the past. You might have even wondered if you’ve experienced it in the past or if you’re experiencing it now. 

The phrase “burnout” is often associated with a person’s physical burnout. It is when a person physically feels tired about socially interacting with other people. Emotional exhaustion, on the other hand, is when one experiences a period of excessive stress at work and in their personal life. 

When people experience loneliness, tiredness, and stress altogether, they find themselves emotionally exhausted. It makes them feel like they do not feel anything anymore. They become overwhelmed by all the responsibilities expected of them. They are tired, and their body experiences fatigue. 

These feelings tend to build up over a long period of time. But when people get tired, they may stop taking care of themselves, and they may no longer see the early warning signs of exhaustion. In the end, they become so tired that they just want to give up.

Sadly, this impacts their relationship with others as it affects their behavior too. Are you at risk for emotional exhaustion?

What Causes Emotional Exhaustion

People go through emotional exhaustion for any given reason—each to his own. There are several reasons why a person could be going through emotional stress. It depends on their tolerance, their stress levels, and other outside factors like children or aging parents. When all of these triggers happen at the same time, emotional exhaustion is imminent. 

Emotional isolation may be one of the things that people turn to when they are under a lot of emotional stress. They tend to withdraw from the people that they love in order to protect themselves. They isolate themselves because they think they should deal with it on their own. But the truth is that a person under a lot of emotional stress should be getting all the help that they can.

If you’re going through an especially emotional time in your life, there are various signs and more of emotional burnout of which to be aware. They come in many forms and on different levels. 

Factors that trigger emotional exhaustion include but are not limited to:

• A significant change in your life, such as marriage, divorce, or even the death of a loved one
• Being a caregiver to your kids or elderly members of the family
• Experiencing financial stress such as debt or the loss of a job
• Having a baby or raising children
• Juggling a lot of responsibilities all at once
• Working long hours
• Living with chronic pain
• Working in a high-pressure environment

Typically, a person who is suffering from emotional stress is often overwhelmed by a lot of things from the above list. Because of this flood of stressors, they may not be balancing the demands of their life and the self-care that they need.

For example, social workers witness some of the most depraved and awful human acts. Not only do they have to rescue children or the elderly from abusive, dirty, and neglectful situations, they also have to deal with the emotional trauma of the victims and the emotional abuse of the perpetrators. Social work burnout is a massive issue as violence and abuse do not cease at the end of business hours. Social workers are often called to intervene in dangerous situations in the middle of the night, on the weekends, and during vacation time. Many leave the vocation after only a few years because they are unable to continue dealing with the weight of other’s emotional stress, let alone their own.

How To Deal With Emotional Stress

To reduce emotional loneliness, burnout, or just sheer exhaustion, you need to make changes in how you live your everyday life. Whenever you feel hungry, angry, lonely, and tired, you must ask yourself what could be causing it. 

Sometimes, apart from making life changes, you might need medication or to go to talk therapy. These treatments and tips could aid in your recovery. 

How does one deal with the emotional stress and also reduce it? Here is a list to get you started:

Face the stress to overcome it

Whenever possible, target the stress itself to reduce it. For example, if it is work, perhaps you can reduce your workload. Delegate it to someone who can do the tasks that you do. Ask for help if you need it. Maybe you could also consider being assigned to another department where you will tackle another kind of work. This way, not only are you curtailing the stress itself, but you are also getting rid of the cause. 

Make healthier life choices

Living a good life does not only mean doing what you want to do. It also involves making healthier choices in terms of the food, drinks, and activities you engage in. Start eating healthy. Drink more water and less caffeinated or soft drinks. Make sure to eat a balanced diet, rich in fruits and vegetables. Eat fewer grains and go for lean sources of protein. Limit the amount of alcohol that you drink. Engage in regular exercise. It will help if you spend thirty minutes a day on a workout. You can increase the time as you progress. 

Help yourself by establishing an exercise routine. Following a routine every day could help regulate the body, improve muscle strength, and help it adjust to a healthier lifestyle. 

Always try to achieve a good life and work balance

This is perhaps one of the most challenging tasks to do. For those who are workaholics and love their job, this can especially hard. But if you don’t want to end up sick, it is best to strike a balance between your work and living life. Plan your vacations ahead of time. Take scheduled breaks during the workday to allow your body and your mind to rejuvenate. 

Here are a few things you could do either during your breaks at work or when you get home. Any of them will help you clear your mind and rest your body.

1. Drawing
2. Starting a collection
3. Reading
4. Gardening
5. Spending time with pets
6. Watching movies
7. Walking in the park

Practice mindfulness in all that you do

A regular mindfulness practice allows your brain to adjust to the challenges of your responsibilities. It can reduce anxiety and depression, and it can help improve your mood. People who practice mindfulness go through less exhaustion and achieve more satisfaction in what they do. Mindfulness techniques allow a person to enjoy life without worrying about what could happen tomorrow fully. 

Prevention is always better than having to find a cure. Fight the feeling of tiredness and loneliness and allow yourself to rest. In the end, it will benefit you.