Mental Vs Emotional Exhaustion
Generally speaking, mental tends to refer to cognitive skills, like thinking, memory, decision-making, and problem-solving. Emotional, on the other hand, has to do with feelings, including your ability to identify, process, and express them.
You might notice emotional exhaustion when navigating difficult, painful, or unwanted feelings, such as:
- a decline in motivation or productivity
- feeling lethargic or slowed down in movements or responses
- difficulty concentrating, remembering information, putting thoughts together, or completing work correctly
Of Course Youre Stressed This Is Hard Anyone Experiencing X Would Be Stressed
Validate their emotions. The most important answer to your question starts with what not to say. Do not say things like Dont be stressed! Dont worry about it! Everything will be fine!
This is problematic because the person is already stressed/worrying, so this is not only invalidating but runs the risk of causing the person to now feel stressed and bad about feeling stressed.
Instead, always start with validation, Of course youre stressed. This is hard. Anyone experiencing X would be stressed.
Ask Them How Theyre Feeling
Depending on your company culture, it may be difficult to get honest feedback one-on-one. No one wants to appear like they arenât up to the challenge. So instead of putting the pressure on face to face, implement a wellness and stress survey. This will allow you to get a read on stress at one point-in-time so you can send the same survey at a later date to compare results. At Headspace, we sent a quarterly survey that assessed happiness at work, and it provided detailed results on an anonymous individual basis, but also how separate teamsâ happiness compared to one another. Employees were able to review their own results as well to see how their stress tracked over time. Your initial survey could be much simpler and still give a voice to a workforce that may be needing one.
Read Also: Can Stress Cause Bell’s Palsy
Take Care Of Your Body
A healthy body can help you manage stress. Get 7 to 9 hours of sleep, eat healthy food, stay hydrated and exercise regularly. Go easy on the caffeine. Shorting yourself on sleep, and especially pulling an all-nighter, robs you of energy and your ability to concentrate. A healthy diet improves your ability to learn. Don’t skip breakfast.
Effects Of Chronic Stress
Stress can range from short-term to long lasting and can affect your mental and physical health.
Feeling stuck in a state of overwhelm can lead to feelings of despair, which can veer into depression, says Liza Gold, a licensed clinical social worker in New York City.
If a loved one is feeling stressed, look out for the following changes in their behavior, says Gold:
- seeming tense, irritable, or on edge
- experiencing changes in sleeping habits
- experiencing changes in appetite
- misusing drug or alcohol
- exercising compulsively
If you notice that a loved one is stressed, dont be afraid to say something. Let them know you can sense that theyre feeling overwhelmed, and ask how you can be of support, says Gold.
If you notice any of these symptoms in your loved one, you can read more about how to support someone with depression.
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What To Say To Someone Whos Stressed About Life
Life is a complicated experience, and things dont always go according to plan. Whether you need to know what to say when someone has a sick family member, or youve run out of ways to say how can I help.” try these powerful phrases.
13. Ive got your back no matter what happens.
Its easy to feel compelled to take action when something bad happens to a loved one. Instead, they likely just need a shoulder to cry on. Letting them know that youre there for them even for the challenging days strengthens your connection.
14. This isnt your fault.
One way to be supportive is to listen to what someone has to say and let them know they dont have to shoulder the full burden of this anxiety. We dont have to allow for greater fear when we can relieve them of this pain.
15. Do you want to talk about something else?
Sometimes people just need a distraction. Open the door to a lighter conversation by prompting if its time to think about something else. From there, engage your loved one in something more comforting.
16. Silence.
Last but not least, sometimes the best thing you can say is nothing at all. At times, you just need to listen to your loved one about their concerns. Let them talk through their stress and worries. The act of talking to others is a stress-reliever in itself.
I Am Here If You Want To Talk About It Or Not
This response is not dismissive and shows the person that you care about and want to help. Whether or not they say yes and are open to talking is their choice. Having the option available will be appreciated.
Sometimes when a person verbalizes that they want to be left alone, they may not actually mean it. In my experiences with clients, they report wanting their negative thinking and feelings to leave/stop. Sitting quietly with a person may benefit some individuals.
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Or The Conversation Stops Entirely When You Arrive
It may not be just an energy change that makes it clear that you stress people out. If you walk into the room and the conversation stops, chances are that everyone was discussing you or, at least, saying something that they didn’t want you to know about. Instead of taking this personally, use it as a chance to grow and become a more productiveâand less stress-inducingâpart of the group.
Ask Your Friend To Join You For Specific Activities To Help Get Them Out Of Their Rut
Rather than suggesting that maybe yoga will help them relax, invite them to join you for your next Zoom yoga session.
Ask your friend if theyd like to virtually join a family game night, or join you for a socially distanced picnic. Many stressed-out people really appreciate having the burden taken off of them to organize something.
Jared M. Grant, Psy.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist | President, Mental Shifts
Also Check: How To Deal With Too Much Stress
How To Spot If A Loved One Is Stressed And 4 Ways To Help
From work to finances and family responsibilities, there’s simply no avoiding stress. And with the latest news of the novel coronavirus pandemic, political instability and racial injustice, our country’s collective stress meter is through the roof.
Video of the Day
But people aren’t always good at connecting the dots and recognizing stress in themselves. In fact, sometimes, it’s easier to spy stress from the outside.
We talked to Jor-El Caraballo, MA, EdM, LMHC, a NYC-based therapist and co-founder of Viva Wellness, to learn how to spot spiraling stress levels in our friends, family members and partners, as well as ways to help our loved ones cope during tense times.
âGet tips on how to stay healthy, safe and sane during the novel coronavirus pandemic.â
Create A Sense Of Structure To Keep Yourself Productive And Positive
Even though my business may be impacted right now, its been important for me to keep a daily work schedule that Ive always maintained.
7 AM: Wake up and work out8 AM: Get ready, have breakfast and listen to news podcasts9 AM: Work time, check-in with my co-founders12:00 PM: Lunch, take a 30-minute break to cook1:00 PM: Work time, check-in with my co-founders5:30 PM: Go on a run outside with my husband, no phones!6:00 PM: Cook and have dinner with my husband screen break!7:00 PM: Self-care time8:30 PM: Facetime friends or family10:30 PM: Go to bed
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What Would Help You Feel Less Stuck
Dont allow a friend to really wallow.
- Wow, this sounds like it really has you down is anything else going on that makes you feel stuck?
- What would help you feel less stuck?
- Ok Im going to set the time for 15 min and you tell me everything awful about this. Ill check in at the end of this, you still want to rantIm here to listen, but maybe a good dump of all your troubles would clear the air?
Is Stress Taking A Toll On Your Body And Mind Watch For These Warnings
Medically reviewed in September 2021
Stress happensthere’s no way around it. It’s your body’s natural reaction to thoughts or events that make you feel threatened or in danger. And whether real or imagined, when you perceive a threat in your life, your nervous system goes into a “fight-or-flight” response, releasing stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol to help you better handle an emergency situation.
In small doses stress can be good, helping you perform like a pro under a looming deadline at work or acting as a motivator to be your best when the moment calls for it. But prolonged stress can take a toll on your body, too. Here’s how to tell if you’re suffering from too much of it.
Medically reviewed in April 2021.
Crying, Mood Swings and No Energy
Our modern lives are chock-full of stressful events. But when you reach your breaking point, it’s time to check in on your emotional well-being.
“Emotional signs of stress can include difficulty concentrating, frequent tearfulness and mood swings, disorganization, difficulty making decisions and a general lack of energy,” says Sudeepta Varma, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist and clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at the NYU Langone Medical Center.
Keep in mind that these symptoms can also be related to other psychological problems, so it’s important to see your doctor and find out if your symptoms are, in fact, stress-related.
Pain, Skin and Digestive Problems
Anxiety, Worry and Guilt
Sleep Problems
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Helpful Things To Say To Someone Experiencing Stress
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We all experience moments of stress from time to time. From experiencing the loss of a close loved one to daily work dress, these things are a normal part of life. When we experience stress, our mind feels like its in overdrive. Anxiety pushes us to the edge, and these thoughts can feel like they have a huge effect on our overall mental health.
Jump ahead to these sections:
If youve ever been in a stressful situation, you know how frustrating it is. You also know how difficult it is to hear people tell you to calm down or get over it. If youre in the presence of someone who is stressed, its important to help in a supportive way.
Even small acknowledgments of their feelings go a long way. Here are 16 helpful things to say to someone experiencing stress in one way or another.
Hint: Sometimes the right thing to say is nothing at all! Dont underestimate the power of silence.
How To Know If Someone Is Depressed
This article was co-authored by Mental Health America. Mental Health America is the nation’s leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness and promoting overall mental health for all. Their work is guided by the Before Stage 4 philosophy that mental health conditions should be treated long before they reach the most critical points in the disease process.There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 226,412 times.
Depression is a serious mental health issue. Those suffering from depression need support and professional help. If you suspect someone is depressed, there are several signs to look for. Pay attention to any changes in behavior. The person may be sleeping less, eating less, or losing weight. Watch for any changes in mood. A person living with depression may suffer from mood swings and struggle to concentrate. If you believe someone is considering suicide, make sure they seek professional help.
Read Also: What Are The Symptoms Of Stress And Anxiety
You May Need Support Too
Worrying about a friend and supporting them while they seek help can impact your own emotional health. Remember to take care of yourself. If the impact on your emotional health is interfering with your life or if youre seeing any of the warning signs weve talked about in this article, reach out for support for yourself
Set Boundaries On Your Work Schedule
Initially in quarantine, I would catch myself working from 9 am to 8 pm and sometimes even interrupting my co-founders day-to-day.
Its easy to work more while youre at home, but its also taxing on your well-being and the others around you, so create boundaries. My daily scheduled routine has really helped me stay motivated and focused because of my time boxes.
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Is Productivity Falling
Happiness has been shown to directly affect productivity. A recent study shows that happy employees are 12% more productive. The research team said, âPositive emotions appear to invigorate human beings.â It seems obvious when you put it like that â an energized person does better work, and good feelings energize us. When productivity is down, we can often miscategorize certain employees as inefficient or lazy, but it may be a broader symptom of stress and unhappiness across the organization.
Exercise And Get Moving
Whether its brisk walking, running, or simply dancing, exercise decreases stress hormones, like adrenaline, and releases feel-good hormones like endorphins. Think of it as a fair hormone exchange.
Relationship Expert | Trauma Expert
Our response to someone who is stressed depends on our relationship with them.
In some relationships, it may be appropriate to say, what can I take off your plate? In other relationships, it may be more helpful to say, Would it help to talk about it with me? Its OK if youd rather not, but Im here to listen if you want and then say nothing at all.
Read Also: How To Manage Stress Management
Physical Signs Of Stress
The hormones that our bodies produce to respond to stressful situations can have many physical effects. These effects might include:
- Diffculty breathing
- Chest pains and high blood pressure
- Indigestion or heartburn
- Feeling sick, dizzy or fainting
- Sudden weight gain or weight loss
- Developing rashes or itchy skin
- Changes to your period or menstrual cycle
- Existing physical health problems getting worse
If we experience high levels of stress, these physical effects can get worse. This can also happen if we experience stress for a long period of time.
In some cases, stress may cause more severe or long-term physical health problems. These might include:
- Takotsubo cardiomyopathy . This can feel similar to a heart attack. The British Heart Foundation has information about takotsubo cardiomyopathy.
- Secondary amenorrhoea. This is when you don’t get your period for three months or more. The NHS has information on stopped or missed periods.
I started waking up in the morning in a panic, feeling nauseous, with my heart racing. That feeling would stick around for as long as I was awake. 99% of the time, I felt like something really bad was about to happen.
Managing Stress In Daily Life
Stress is not an illness itself, but it can cause serious illness if it isn’t addressed. It’s important to recognise the symptoms of stress early. Recognising the signs and symptoms of stress will help you figure out ways of coping and save you from adopting unhealthy coping methods, such as drinking or smoking.
There is little you can do to prevent stress, but there are many things you can do to manage stress more effectively, such as learning how to relax, taking regular exercise and adopting good time-management techniques.
Studies have found that mindfulness courses, where participants are taught simple meditations across a series of weeks, can also help to reduce stress and improve mood.
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How Stress Can Make You Feel
If you are stressed, you might feel:
- Irritable, angry, impatient or wound up
- Over-burdened or overwhelmed
- Like your thoughts are racing and you can’t switch off
- Unable to enjoy yourself
- Like you’ve lost your sense of humour
- A sense of dread
- Neglected or lonely
- Existing mental health problems getting worse
Some people who go through severe stress may experience suicidal feelings. This can be very distressing.
If you feel unable to keep yourself safe, it’s a mental health emergency.
How To Tell If Someone Is Struggling With Mental Health
We all have our share of bad days. Sometimes, we forget to follow through sometimes we get frustrated with a friend or a colleague sometimes we just cant even focus on whatever we’re supposed to be doing. It happens to the best of us.
There are other times, however, when our behaviour can be indicative of something other than merely having a crummy day. When someone you know seems to be a little bit more than off their game, so to speak, they may be dealing with bigger problems.
Not to say that you or anyone else can or should be diagnosing behaviour . Rather, if you are concerned, it could be a good opportunity to show them a little extra compassion.
After all, on any given week, hundreds of thousands of Canadians will struggle with a mental health problem and, right now, so many more of us are feeling the stress and strain of whats happening in the world. Mental health is an issue that should be discussed more often.
So, in the spirit of a greater awareness of mental health, here are some signs that someone you know may be dealing with a mental health concern.
A Sadness PrevailsPerhaps they’ve made mention that theyre always feeling less-than-great, or are constantly using negative language to describe themselves. Or maybe youve noticed that theyre acting weighed down by sadness even at happy events such as social functions.
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