What is emotional exhaustion?
You feel emotionally exhausted when negative feelings and thoughts overwhelm you and take over your life. This means that you experience worry, anxiety, boredom, and unhappiness daily. When you feel this way, it can be extremely challenging to engage in day-to-day activities. If left untreated, your emotional exhaustion can make you feel angry, frustrated, and paranoid. To avoid reaching this stage and to ensure that you do not lose control, you need to be aware of the key signs of emotional exhaustion.
There are 4 signs you should watch out for.
1. Physical exhaustion.
Usually, physical exhaustion is treated by a simple rest. If, however, you find yourself feeling tired after having a good night’s sleep, you do not need physical rest: you need emotional rest. When we feel chronically tired and incapable of replenishing our energy, it is because our bodies are trying to warn us that something is wrong. When rest and sleep do not fix your constant fatigue, you need to search elsewhere.
2. You lose interest in things.
If you have suddenly become demotivated, idle, and uninterested in your day-to-day activities, you need to pause and ask yourself why. Lacking vitality and motivation is a clear sign that you are emotionally exhausted from the life you live.
3. You have become easily irritable.
Being emotionally exhausted can make you less tolerant and more impatient. Feeling indifferent to and irritated by your friends and family can make you feel like a bad person. Although feeling this way is completely normal, you need to understand that your thoughts and feelings are brought about by your exhaustion: not you. Getting the help you need will help you regain your patience and tolerance.
4. You feel unworthy.
Taking the previous point further, you can find yourself having self-destructive and negative thoughts. You might be feeling like you are a bad person or that you are unworthy of affection. These thoughts can drive you to withdraw from the people around you as you feel insecure and unhappy.
Practicing mindfulness can help treat your emotional exhaustion.
Mindfulness techniques reduce stress and anxiety. Moreover, they allow you to balance your emotions as you focus on and engage with the present. When you are concentrating on the current moment, you are not stressing about the future or living in the past. Yoga, breathing techniques, daily journaling, and meditation can help treat your emotional exhaustion.
It is important to note that sometimes, lifestyle changes are not enough. Speaking to a mental health professional such as a therapist may give you the tools you need to overcome your emotional exhaustion.
