Mental Health: 10 Signs You’re Overworked

Surely you’ve heard that the path to professional success is to work tirelessly. Never give up. But knowing your limits and resting is essential for mental health.

A survey carried out by FGV (Fundação Getúlio Vargas), in partnership with companies Talenses and Gympass, showed that 43% of respondents say they are overloaded with work. Another 31% said they were under pressure for results and goals. The survey was carried out in January of this year with 572 people.

Psychologist Luiz Mafle, professor of psychology and doctor in psychology from PUC Minas (Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais) and the University of Geneva, explains that overload occurs when we have several tasks to perform at the same time or when we are very worried about a activity.

In addition to the demands of work, household chores and family care are added. “For example, when you have to take care of someone who has a need and needs to be there all the time, with care, this creates an overload. check, verify, remember. When these two situations accumulate, it’s a bomb. Stress and depression levels can double”, explains the specialist.

Next, the psychologist lists ten symptoms of excess responsibilities that can lead to burnout.

Irritability

One of the main characteristics of a person who is trying to handle several tasks at the same time is irritability. “The person becomes very sensitive. Irritability can arise in the form of aggression, when he is reactive, or also when he cries more than usual. This happens because he is trying to get rid of any other demands that may arise”, warns Mafle. .

Insomnia

With so many things to do and a head full of thoughts, people who are overloaded usually can’t sleep well. “With unbalanced sleep, fatigue becomes even more intense. In addition, it begins to generate impacts on routine and also on physical health”, says the psychologist.

One way to circumvent this situation is to create a sleep hygiene routine, avoiding having breakfast after 3 pm, exercising and staying away from screens at least two hours before bed.

Loss of income at work

Excessive worries and tasks also impair focus and attention at work. “Those who are overworked feel unmotivated and have difficulty concentrating, which can have a direct impact on their professional routine. In addition, irritability and feelings on the surface can cause conflicts between colleagues,” he says.

Increase or loss of appetite

Emotional overload also affects the way we take care of our body and food. “It is possible to see people who forget to eat and others who discount their feelings in food. We need to look carefully and understand why this imbalance in food is happening. It can be a sign that the body and mind need help.”

feeling of failure

“With so many activities under their control, the overloaded person is often unable to cope with everything and feels frustrated and feeling helpless. They begin to embrace the world and this suffocates and frustrates them”, she says. This situation is common in patients who are experiencing burnout.

Anxiety

Excessive demands are a full plate for anxiety. “Mental fatigue can be accompanied by chest pains, lack of motivation and anxiety attacks. With so many worries it is common for individuals to become more anxious and start creating scenarios in their head, which can further increase the triggers for anxiety. “, reveals Mafle.

Depression

Overload, when faced for long periods, is one of the main factors that cause anxiety and depression. “When this overload is experienced for long periods, the person begins to feel frustrated, life begins to paralyze, because there is no room for other growths, developments, and it becomes a very heavy routine”, observes the psychologist.

“The person feels worse, tired, without energy, can’t have a personal life or self-care, feels undervalued, abandons and this increases the level of anxiety and depression”, he explains.

Isolation

At a more advanced level of overload, the person begins to close down, to isolate himself, not having contact with friends and family. “She closes herself off and doesn’t count on anyone else, she wants to isolate herself. Everything seems to become a requirement, so she thinks that any other demand becomes a task, that’s how problems start in relationships”, she says.

Let go of self-care

With so many tasks, the person can’t take the time to look at himself. “She loses the pleasure of taking care of herself, of getting ready and, sometimes, she even puts aside the acts of hygiene”, comments Mafle.

“She doesn’t look at herself with affection and attention anymore, because exhaustion has already taken over, and self-care becomes one more task amid so many.”

not seek help

“It is important to seek help and take care of yourself. A person with overload takes a lot out of psychotherapy, because he will understand the reasons that are leading him to assume all these responsibilities at once, and probably alone”, he explains.

According to the psychologist, the overworked person feels less valued, so to show his worth he takes on many tasks for people to realize that he has the capacity. “Psychotherapy is fundamental to see to what extent responsibility must be assumed and to what extent it must be shared with someone, because often these core beliefs of not being loved, not having value, make us make decisions, have attitudes and thoughts. that put us in trouble. Therapy is a great place to find new outlets, possibilities, ways to deal with situations, bringing less weight to our daily lives.”

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