Even if you have had your chronic illness for a short period, you have likely already experienced burnout. Burnout comes from the stress and overwhelm of dealing with your condition, whether it is having to constantly focus on doctor’s appointments and medications and therapies, extreme pain management, lack of energy, and overall exhaustion.
Our functional medicine Studio City specialists at Functional Medicine Los Angeles have listed some things to know about burnout with your chronic illness, and what you can do about it.
The Effects of Burnout
The first thing to know about burnout is how to spot it. If you haven’t experienced this before, or haven’t acknowledged it, you might assume these symptoms are related to something else. As functional medicine Los Angeles providers we have enumerated some common symptoms of burnout.
- Being so exhausted you can barely move your body
- You feel helpless and hopeless
- You have no interest in anything, including what you used to enjoy
- You keep missing your deadlines and appointments
- You prefer to be isolated from other people
- You have a level of emotional detachment from others
- You start intentionally skipping medical appointments
Why Burnout is So Common Among Chronic Illness Sufferers
The reason so many people with chronic illness end up with burnout is because of how time-consuming, overwhelming, and stressful living with this type of illness can be. Chronic illness takes a lot out of you and requires so much time and energy.
You go from living a normal, busy life, to suddenly everything revolving around doctor’s appointments, pharmacy visits, medication schedules, advocating for yourself, and of course the pain and exhaustion you feel daily. It is like having a second job, and it can be overwhelming, to say the least.
What You Can Do About Burnout
Now that you understand what burnout is and why you might get it, it’s time to figure out what exactly you can do about it. Luckily, there are not only ways to manage it, but also prevent it in the future. If you are showing signs of burnout, the first thing to do is take a step back and rest. You can try acupressure treatment if you want. Find a way to either take time off work or ask someone for help so you aren’t taking everything on yourself.
It is also a good time to talk to your doctor and possibly even a therapist. Your doctor has been with you during your chronic illness process, so they are a good person to go to and will be able to guide you in the right direction.
Be honest with yourself about how burnout happened, and whether or not you might be pushing yourself a little too hard. We often live in denial when we get diagnosed with a chronic illness, and ignore the signs of needing rest.
Are you feeling burnt out? Contact our functional medicine Burbank experts to help you find relief.