Please remember, this column is designed to help the consumer seeking behavioral-health information, and not intended to be any form of psychotherapy or a replacement for professional, individualized services. Opinions expressed in the column are those of the columnist and do not represent the position of other SelfhelpMagazine.com staff.

Question

I believe I am badly burned out in my work. I am past the point of prevention and need some guidance as to how I can restore myself and return to my work. Any suggestions?

Answer

Burnout is basically a state of being out of balance, usually because we have allowed our energies to become drained by people, places, and things. Recovery from burnout requires a holistic program of nurturance as well as the development of a plan for future prevention.

At the level of body, start by getting a good physical to make sure that you have not developed some sort of chronic health problem and to insure that the lack of energy is not strictly medical. Establish an exercise habit. Develop a plan of healthy physical self-nurturance. (Healthy does not include the use of alcohol, drugs, food, etc.) Such self-nurturance could include anything from frequent massages to hot soaks to more regular love-making.

At the level of mind, assess the level of negativity in statements you typically are thinking about yourself and make a more regular effort to dispute those statements. Start keeping a journal so that you might be able to track your recovery.

At the level of emotional, reestablish regular experiencing of that which gives you joy.

At the level of spirit, try to reestablish a connection with your creative energies, usually dried up by burnout. Write some poetry. Sketch. Find a child to play with.

Julia Cameron's book The Artist's Way might prove helpful. As you are feeling more energized, then develop IN WRITING a plan for burnout prevention. Don't view yourself as invincible. Burnouts are painful, even frightening events. Take them seriously.

08/07/98

Richard B. Patterson is a clinical psychologist in private practice in El Paso, TX. He is the author of three books on psychology and spirituality.