Many individuals in helping professions like healthcare, ministry, and teaching enter their fields because of a deep passion for serving others.

Whether it’s answering a calling, seeking to make a difference, or simply having a heart for others, these roles are often fueled by compassion and dedication. Simultaneously, research shows that individuals in helping professions experience higher rates of burnout due to prolonged stress and emotional demands, especially when professionals constantly give of themselves without replenishing their own emotional, mental, and physical reserves. This blog post explores ways to recognize symptoms of burnout and gives some practical strategies to address symptoms of burnout.

Recognizing Burnout

Burnout in helping professions goes beyond just feeling tired after a long day. It’s an ongoing state of physical and emotional exhaustion that can lead to decreased job performance and health problems. Here are five signs that someone may be experiencing burnout:

Emotional Exhaustion: A deep sense of fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest. You may feel “drained” before the day even starts, making it difficult to engage with patients, students, or congregants.
Decreased Compassion or Empathy: Also known as “compassion fatigue,” this is a feeling of being unable to care deeply for others as you once did. Often, this can stem from vicarious trauma—secondary exposure to the trauma that others experience.
Depersonalization: Feeling detached or distant from the people you’re serving, as if you’re just “going through the motions” rather than connecting meaningfully.
Reduced Sense of Accomplishment: You may begin to feel that your work doesn’t matter or isn’t making a difference, even though the opposite is often true.
Physical Symptoms: Chronic stress can manifest as headaches, stomach issues, or trouble sleeping. You may even experience frequent illnesses as your immune system weakens.

Addressing Burnout: Five Healthy Solutions

If you’re recognizing these symptoms in yourself or a colleague, it’s important to take steps to address burnout before it worsens. Here are five evidence-based strategies to help:

Prioritize Self-Care: It’s crucial for helping professionals to recharge regularly. Self-care can include getting adequate sleep, eating nutritious meals, exercising, and setting aside time for relaxation. Author Parker Palmer writes, “Self-care is never a selfish act—it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer others.”
Seek Support: Reach out to trusted friends, family, colleagues, or a counselor. A mental health professional, particularly one familiar with vicarious trauma, can help you process difficult experiences and offer coping strategies. Community is essential in helping professions where the burden of care is shared.
Set Boundaries: While helping professionals often feel a duty to be “always available,” learning to say no is critical. Clearly define your working hours and time off and stick to those boundaries.
Engage in Reflective Practice: Taking time to reflect on your experiences can help you process complex emotions. Journaling, supervision, or group reflection with peers can create space to understand and manage feelings of burnout.
Practice Mindfulness: Research has shown that mindfulness and meditation can significantly reduce stress and improve mental clarity. Practices such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or mindful walks can restore a sense of calm and presence.

Caring for Yourself in Trauma-Informed Work

Healthcare workers, ministers, and teachers are often exposed to trauma—whether directly or vicariously. Vicarious trauma, or secondary traumatic stress, occurs when you internalize the trauma others are experiencing, leading to symptoms similar to PTSD. It’s essential to recognize this as a real risk and to approach your work with a trauma- informed mindset.

To combat vicarious trauma, make it a priority to debrief after challenging days. This can be through formal supervision, peer support, or journaling. Remind yourself that while you may walk alongside others in their pain, you cannot carry it for them. Theologian Henri Nouwen said, “Our own wounds can become sources of healing.” Helping professionals, while called to serve, must first care for themselves to be fully present for others.

By recognizing the signs of burnout and implementing healthy coping strategies, you can continue to offer compassion while protecting your own well-being. Ultimately, the goal is not only to prevent burnout but to sustain a life-giving career that honors both your passion and your own needs.

Here at Atlanta Wellness Collective, we want to help. For support, contact us or request an appointment online.

This blog was written by Micah Moore.

Disclaimer: This blog is not intended to substitute professional therapeutic advice. Talk with your healthcare provider about your health concerns and before starting or stopping therapies. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct professional advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

SCHEDULE

VISIT US ON INSTAGRAM @atlwell