by Sherrie Bourg Carter

Created on: February 06, 2010

With today’s economic woes and seemingly bad financial news everywhere we turn, a large and growing number of people are reporting significant stress in their lives, and with stress comes a barrage of other problems, none of which are good for our emotional and physical health. Making matters worse, all of this added stress raises concerns at a time in our history when stressful lives have become the rule rather than the exception. Gone are the Leave it to Beaver days when Ward Cleaver, the loving husband, dedicated father, and bread winner, worked at a reasonable pace until about 4 pm when he left to come home to Wally, Beaver, and of course June, the quintessential stay-at-home wife and mother. That American dream has been replaced by what some are calling “the American Dream on steroids.”

In fact, the Center for Work-Life Policy, in its 2007 report, Seduction and Risk: The Emergence of Extreme Jobs, notes: “… the 40-hour workweek is a relic of the past.” And with technological advances, such as smart phones and laptop computers, that serve to blur the boundaries between work and home life, there are many for which the “workweek” has no limits. These extra hours and extra responsibilities equal extra stress for workers, which when coupled with the current economic stressors spell disaster for the emotional and physical well-being of many Americans.

It is a well-established fact that as stress increases so do a lot of other negative symptoms, including headaches, fatigue, depression, anxiety, irritability and anger, sleep problems, overeating, drug and alcohol use, and increased risk of illness. Over time, chronic stress also may lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, ulcers, and a variety of other serious medical conditions. It also can deplete an individual’s physical and emotional resources, leading to a state of exhaustion. Although humans are designed to handle a good amount of stress, when the stress is so constant that it causes exhaustion, the mind and the body can no longer function normally. This is known as burnout, and this is exactly what we’re seeing more and more of in these trying times.  

By definition, burnout is a cumulative process where chronic stress and frustration lead to physical and emotional exhaustion and a loss of strength, motivation, and ability to successfully function on a personal and professional level. Burnout also can lead to behaviors that are self-defeating

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