The Physical Side of Burnout & Fatigue

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist or psychiatrist to tell you that there are physical symptoms that come along with fatigue. You may be experiencing both obvious and not-so-obvious symptoms. Feeling tired is common even in the healthiest of people, but burnout tired is magnified by multiple issues co-mingling together.  

Let’s look at two lists: obvious physical side effects of burnout and fatigue, and some not-so-obvious signs.  

Obvious: 

• Weight Gain  
• Weight Loss 
• Insomnia  
• Oversleeping 
• Irritability 
• Anxiety 
• Physical Pain 

Not so obvious: 

• Hair Loss 
• Digestive Issues 
• Skin Rashes 
• Adrenal Fatigue  
• Memory Loss 
• Feelings of Isolation 
• Chronic Illness  

Did you recognize any of your symptoms on either list? Truth is, there are even more items that could be listed and attributed to burnout. By the time your body is reflecting the symptoms of burnout, you are at a point where you will need to take significant action to get things back in order.  

Be honest with yourself about your level of fatigue and burnout; being open to the fact that things are simply too much and that they have gone on for too long is the first step to stop the physical symptoms of burnout. 

Seek help- See your physician, mental health specialist, or other healthcare provider and have an assessment done to see if your symptoms are burnout-related or part of a bigger issue.  

Take advice- Your physician or provider will have advice and directions for you to help stop the physical symptoms you are experiencing. It’s up to you to digest this advice and implement the necessary changes in your life.  

Take action- Whether you delegate your responsibilities, change your diet, start exercising, or take any other action, taking action is the key to change. Moving from gathering knowledge to making changes is the point where you will see your symptoms decrease.  

Did you know: Many obese people experience chronic illnesses that are alleviated when they are able to lose weight. The same is true for burnout. By reducing our stress and making changes, many of our chronic symptoms will start to disappear.  

The physical symptoms of burnout are sometimes obvious and sometimes hidden. You may attribute that chronic headache to “needing more caffeine”, when in fact that headache is coming from your constricted blood vessels or grinding your teeth at night because you have so much unresolved anger. Getting to the root of your physical issue will make change easier. Recovering from the pain of burnout is possible, and you deserve to have the best quality of life possible.