Burnout, Fatigue, and Substance Use
- Ben Pearson
- Sep 26, 2021
- 6 min read
Updated: Aug 30
Managing the daily grind can be a lot, and the pressure of work can weigh on anyone. If you're struggling with work-related stress, understanding the connection between burnout, fatigue, and substance use is the first step toward finding relief. We have the information you need to recognize the signs and take control of your well-being.
What are the primary signs of burnout?
Burnout is a state of unending stress and mental and physical fatigue. Key signs include chronic tiredness, emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and a reduced professional performance. It can also lead to a lack of motivation and disinterest in personal and professional relationships.
Burnout can take a serious toll, but recognizing the symptoms and causes is key to preventing it from leading to more serious issues like substance abuse. Continue reading to learn more about the emotional toll of burnout and how it can affect your life outside of work.
How Do Work Demands and Boundaries Influence an Employee's Well-being, Burnout, and Fatigue?
A person’s job plays a central role in their life, shaping daily routines, social interactions, and overall well-being. The financial rewards, hours spent at work, and relationships with coworkers all influence both physical and mental health.
No matter the role or industry, burnout fatigue and substance use are real concerns that affect workers across all levels. From entry-level employees to top executives, the demands of the job can take a serious toll.
While fulfilling professional responsibilities is important, so is making time for self-care and setting clear boundaries around work. These steps are essential in preventing burnout before it leads to more serious consequences.
The Signs and Symptoms of Burnout
Work can be frustrating. Even those holding positions of authority within a company are not immune to the constant barrage of frustrations, stress, and unpredictable hurdles that each day can present.
However, while this stress can be constant, it is not necessarily burnout. Rather, burnout is a set of drastic symptoms that affect an individual both inside and outside of the workplace.
Burnout is best considered as a feeling of unending stress, mental and physical fatigue. Some may experience an overall disillusionment of their work that directly impacts their performance and motivation to continue regular functioning.
Regardless of the importance of one’s job, this feeling of being overworked can change one’s view of their profession from a positive experience to a wholly negative, stressful, and frustrating place to be.
Some of the other signs of burnout may include:
Chronic tiredness
Emotional exhaustion
Outbursts of frustration
Overly responsive to criticism or stress
Increased cynicism
Disinterested in spending time with friends or coworkers
Reduced professional performance
Compromised time-management
Difficulty focusing
Chronic headaches
Feeling heavy/lethargic
Avoidance of self-care
This feeling of pervasive frustration, the lack of ability to take pride in one’s accomplishments, dwindling motivation, and alienation from one’s coworkers can take a massive toll on one’s life. This creates a pessimistic worldview, even paving the way for stress to develop into depression and destructive coping strategies.
Causes of Burnout
Burnout can manifest due to a number of different factors. For some, a personal sense of perfectionism can affect their stress levels in the workplace. Others may feel burnout as a result of unfair time constraints or deadlines coupled with an excessive workload.
An unclear goal or job description can make it exceptionally trying to navigate the workplace effectively as well. Communication can also play a large role, whether due to a lack of communication with employees or excessive contact leaving little time for one to truly enjoy their personal time.
The Emotional Toll of Burnout
Those in high-ranking professional positions can feel the increased weight of these stresses. Managing others, dealing with professional competition for one’s position, and the constant spotlight that looms over these high-ranking positions can take a large emotional toll.
However, these feelings of disinterest, frustration, and a lack of motivation can then bleed into one’s life outside of the workplace. Fatigue can compromise one’s ability to engage in self-care activities.
Frustration or a lowered tolerance for people can further separate oneself from their family and friends. Isolation, anger, depression, and a compromised sense of professional ability can all cause an individual to try to mitigate these symptoms to feel better, leading to the use of addictive and destructive substance use.
Substance Abuse and Burnout
Burnout feels terrible. It can cause doubt while compromising one’s ability to pull oneself out of this debilitating mental state. Unfortunately, this can commonly lead to the use of addictive substances.
Drugs and alcohol are fast-acting ways that can serve as a distraction from these stresses. Taking any kind of action to feel happy again, or to simply forget about the stresses of the workplace can be exceptionally tempting.
While addictive substances provide this quick sense of respite, they do not address the problem of burnout at hand. These feelings can return even worse once the effects of such substances wear off. The precedent one sets for themselves by using these substances as a coping strategy can also be incredibly dangerous.
While one may feel good for a moment, seeing addictive substances as a solution can quickly lead to the development of a substance abuse disorder or addiction. This can continue complicating one’s professional performance, mental state, and emotional wellbeing.
Coping with burnout and substance abuse simultaneously is an incredibly trying task. Identification of the symptoms of burnout is essential to inform each individual when it may be time to reach out to professionals to cope with the stresses of one’s life and the use of drugs or alcohol that may have come as a result.
Frequently Ask Questions:
• What is the difference between stress and burnout?
Stress is a constant barrage of frustrations, while burnout is a set of drastic symptoms that manifest as unending stress, mental and physical fatigue, and a feeling of disillusionment with one's work.
• What are the emotional effects of burnout?
Burnout can lead to feelings of disinterest, frustration, and a lack of motivation that can bleed into one's life outside of work. It can also cause a lowered tolerance for people, isolation, and depression.
• How does burnout relate to substance use?
Burnout can lead to a desire to mitigate negative feelings, which can lead to the use of addictive substances as a quick distraction. These substances offer temporary relief but do not address the root problem of burnout.
• What are some common causes of burnout?
Burnout can be caused by a personal sense of perfectionism, unfair time constraints, excessive workload, an unclear job description, or a lack of clear communication.
• Can high-ranking professionals experience burnout?
Yes, those in high-ranking positions can feel the increased weight of managing others, professional competition, and the constant spotlight, all of which can take a large emotional toll and lead to burnout.
Experiencing burnout and its related challenges can feel overwhelming, but you don't have to navigate it alone. At Chateau Health and Wellness Treatment Center, we understand the profound impact that work-related stress can have on your life. Our team is dedicated to providing compassionate and effective support to help you find a path to recovery and well-being. We are here to partner with you in addressing the root causes of burnout and any substance use that may have developed as a coping mechanism. We are committed to helping you reclaim your health and build a more balanced future. Take the first step toward a healthier you—reach out to us today. Call (435) 222-5225 to learn more about our services and how we can support you.
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About The Author
Ben Pearson, LCSW - Clinical Director
With 19 years of experience, Ben Pearson specializes in adolescent and family therapy, de-escalation, and high-risk interventions. As a former Clinical Director of an intensive outpatient program, he played a key role in clinical interventions and group therapy. With 15+ years in wilderness treatment and over a decade as a clinician, Ben has helped countless individuals and families navigate mental health and recovery challenges.
Danny Warner, CEO of Chateau Health and Wellness
Brings a wealth of experience in business operations, strategic alliances, and turnaround management, with prior leadership roles at Mediconnect Global, Klever Marketing, and WO Investing, Inc. A graduate of Brigham Young University in Economics and History, Danny has a proven track record of delivering results across diverse industries. His most transformative role, however, was as a trail walker and counselor for troubled teens at the Anasazi Foundation, where he directly impacted young lives, a personal commitment to transformation that now drives his leadership at Chateau.
Austin Pederson, Executive Director of Chateau Health and Wellness
Brings over eight years of experience revolutionizing mental health and substance abuse treatment through compassionate care and innovative business strategies. Inspired by his own recovery journey, Austin has developed impactful programs tailored to individuals facing trauma and stress while fostering comprehensive support systems that prioritize holistic wellness. His empathetic leadership extends to educating and assisting families, ensuring lasting recovery for clients and their loved ones.
