31 January, 2024

Hi! I'm Alicia Johnson, LMFT a licensed therapist specializing in burnout and stress. Ask me anything!

https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/18hniiw/hi_im_alicia_johnson_lmft_a_licensed_therapist/

You are correct that there is no formal diagnosis of burnout. in the mental health field we describe it as the complete emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion people face and the related symptoms that occur due to it.

People can recover from burnout by setting boundaries, living in line with their values, finding coping strategies, asking for help, changing careers/jobs, negotiating benefits/pay, finding worth in other places, and creating healthy routines.

It 1000000 percent is a structural issue. I use the term systemic but yes you are correct. All work is stressful and has cons but when there are these systemic issues at play that is where the burnout happens. It is when we are not valued at work, not given freedom or opportunity, no opportuntiies for growth, not having boundaries respected, etc.

Like a lot of things, even though we are not the cause, the recovery ends up on the individual.