The link between burnout and trauma

For survivors of trauma, burnout can occur when we try to work against unhelpful beliefs that have been created by the trauma. For example, if the trauma results from an adverse childhood, we can develop the belief that we are "not good enough" or "unworthy." As a result, we can spend our adulthood working harder and harder, trying to prove to ourselves (and others) that we are "good enough" or "worthy." We might, for example, develop perfectionistic tendencies in our working life as much as our personal relationships: "If I could just work harder at this and stop making mistakes," for example, "I might feel good enough or worthy." In such cases, there is a high risk of burnout. 
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A survivor of trauma might also risk burnout by overly focusing on something (for example, work or a business, or even a hobby). We might do this to distract ourselves from our trauma, or this excessive focus might give us a sense of power and control to counterbalance the feelings of powerlessness or helplessness that inevitably develop from trauma. 
 
For years, we have been working with survivors of trauma using EMDR and Polyvagal theory. On this page, you will find a great deal of information about Polyvagal theory and EMDR.

Learn more about burnout and trauma by talking to me, an experienced psychotherapist in New Jersey. 

Chris Warren-Dickins
Psychotherapist in Ridgewood, New Jersey