Not all forms of psychological discomfort have to do with suffering; for example, with what makes us feel depression or anxiety disorders. Although it may seem counterintuitive, there are times when what hinders our ability to be happy is the lack of meaningful emotions and feelings.
Thus, not all people who go to psychotherapy do so because they suffer emotional pain; Some seek professional help because what they experience is emotional exhaustion, which is something different.
In this article we explain what they are the main causes of emotional exhaustion and various tips to deal with it and get over it.
In the field of psychology and mental health, the term “emotional exhaustion” is used to talk about a state of lack of motivation to get involved in any complex activity in the medium or short term, and which is usually linked not to fatigue from having made physical effort, but to a feeling of apathy; The individual stops considering interesting, fun or exciting activities, even if this negatively affects the quality of life of the person who experiences it and causes them to enter a vicious circle of boredom.
The harmful consequences of emotional exhaustion can be diverse, because there are many ways to experience this psychological phenomenon. Furthermore, this fact makes many people get used to living with this element of their daily lives and do not identify it as something that harms them, without realizing that they should do something to improve their situation.
However, One of the most common effects of emotional exhaustion is engaging in problematic behaviors to feel something on the one hand, or to force oneself to attend to pending tasks and responsibilities, neglecting one’s own mental health.
Main causes of emotional exhaustion
Now that we have seen what this psychological problem consists of, let’s review the main triggers of emotional exhaustion:
1. Work stress
People who are psychologically “burned out” by work suffer emotional exhaustion very frequently, as they tend to experience intrusive thoughts about their work responsibilities and this prevents them from enjoying any situation related to their free time.
2. Mood disorders
Various mood disorders, such as major depression, lead to a feeling of emotional exhaustion, lack of motivation, and feelings of hopelessness about what the future may hold. In turn, this phenomenon leads the person to a series of routines that reinforce the existence of the disorder: greater predisposition to develop addictions, sleep problems, lack of personal hygiene, etc.
3. Social isolation and/or lack of exposure to stimulating activities
On the other hand, emotional exhaustion can also be caused by repeating over and over again a series of routines linked to monotony and lack of novel elements; For example, it happens a lot in those who barely leave the house. This lifestyle causes the emotional flattening typical of certain mental health problems to appear and lead the person to adopt a passive attitude for not “connecting” with activities that really interest them.
4. Neurological problems
There are neurological pathologies that have emotional exhaustion as one of their first symptoms; for example, certain types of dementia. However, in most cases, the cause is not this, so there is no reason to assume that it is a disease that affects the brain. In any case, It is important to go to therapy so that a diagnosis can be made.
In a similar way to what happens with work stress, the anxiety generated by feeling in an insecure economic situation makes people feel guilty for simply pretending to enjoy a hobby or for wanting to rest. The result is a state of constant emotional exhaustion, which occurs even in those who are unemployed and apparently do not “work” much.
6. Dysfunctional perfectionism
Although it may seem strange, there are people who feel emotionally exhausted even though they seem to not stop working and are very involved in a project. This happens a lot in those who suffer from a form of dysfunctional perfectionism: socially prescribed perfectionism which is one in which we try to reach an ideal of perfection that is imposed on us from outside, and in which we do not really believe.
How to combat emotional exhaustion?
As long as the main cause of emotional exhaustion is not neurological (for example, a neurodegenerative disease), we can apply habits and routines to our daily lives that will greatly increase the chances of solving the problem; However, the most effective measure to return to normal is to go to psychological therapy.
Taking this into account… What to do when faced with emotional exhaustion? Apply these tips:
Why go to psychotherapy for emotional exhaustion?
As we have seen, there are several causes of emotional exhaustion and, in addition, these can interact with each other and with the elements of the personality of each individual, It is important to have personalized psychotherapeutic help adapted to each case. In a psychologist’s consultation you can learn strategies for emotional management, self-motivation, time management, and self-discovery to know your values and priorities.
