Depression and Burnout - Signs and Symptoms in Busy Professionals

Depression and burnout can creep up on a busy professional. Many professionals have that stubborn Type A overachiever style of personality very few are willing to admit a weakness, such as exhaustion or depression. 

Some professionals experience a gradual worsening of symptoms and others are felled by it seemingly overnight with no warning. It really does depend on the individual and the types of stress they are under.

Yet another insidious fact of life when it comes to depression and burnout is that not everybody experiences all of these symptoms. Some people may only find one sphere of their daily existence affected, such as their physical wellness and not appear to have problems in other areas such as work.

However usually depression begins with physical symptoms that include –

• Disturbances in sleep
• Extreme weight gain or loss
• Excessive snacking or eating
• Fatigue and a lack of energy
• Loss of sexual desire
• Digestive problems or headaches
• General pain with no specific cause

Next, we look at the work related problems that are a result of the cognitive difficulties caused by stress. These include –

• Difficulty concentrating
• Memory problems
• Indecisiveness
• Imagining suicide
• Lack of interest in work
• Pessimism about the future

The emotional signs of depression include –

• sadness
• unexplained shame
• worthlessness
• feelings of guilt
• irritability
• feelings of resentment
• inability to feel pleasure in life
• helplessness
• hopelessness
• emotional pain

Finally, the behavioural signs and symptoms of depression and burnout include:

• withdrawal
• being uncommunicative
• crying spells
• slowing down
• restlessness
• neglect of responsibilities
• neglect of personal hygiene
• substance abuse

Also common is the inappropriate expression of feelings such as anger or resentment. A person under too much stress is also always irritable.

Burnout

Burnout is a type of depression but the symptoms of fatigue, apathy and negativity are extreme. The person may be so tired that they may not be able to focus at all on work. They become overwhelmed by a loss of control over circumstances in life (such as a spouse leaving) or by being unable to meet deadlines.

Ironically the last thing that some doctors on the verge of burnout is exhausted.  Many use their Type A personalities to keep plugging on against great odds of success. In fact many doctors who are actually burnt out seem to be incapable of cutting back on the number of hours they spend at work.

Many people can’t get out bed when they are burnt out. It is often accompanied by illness and an abuse of recreational drugs.  By the time a person is burnt out he or she is usually also worthy of a diagnosis of clinical depression. Some doctors will also diagnose this as chronic fatigue symptom.

Life coaching can help in this case by first of all encouraging the individual to come out of self-imposed isolation and talk about problems. A life coach can also help a person suffering from depression cope with inappropriate feelings of shame and know the difference between how one feels about reality and what is really going on. This can really help a depressed or burnt out depression gain perspective and strength and move on to reorganize their lives so that they feel  better.

For more information or to book a consultation about anti-aging, diet and weight loss programs or any health issue you may be experiencing, visit the Pinewood Natural Health Clinic website that has a list of full services and products at www.pinewood.ca or call our Toronto Office at  (416)-656- 8100.  We also have an office in Pickering, Ontario at (905)-427-0057. You can also email us at info@pinewoodhealth.ca and we would be happy to answer any question that you have about our holistic health services.

The Pinewood Team Has Solutions for the Winter Blues

With the glow and celebration of the holiday season behind us, the dark cold days of January and February the can really take a toll on your psyche and leave you with an overall feeling of being blue. Your body has slowed down and your system has become sluggish. You feel tired, irritable, your brain is foggy, you’ve gained weight and you’re overall outlook on life can be less than positive.  Yikes! 

You don’t have to suffer any longer.  Help is here!  Our panel of expert practitioners shares their advice to lift the winter blues.

Dr. Audrey Sasson, Naturopathic Doctor

Map of the Body's Meridians

A positive perspective about how we plan to approach those wintery days will have great impact. Daily affirmations are an excellent way to keep positive thoughts top of mind.  Balancing yin and yang is essential for us battling the winter. Both Chinese herbs and acupuncture are excellent ways tocombat the wintery blues. Meridians are pathways in the body through which energy flows.  Each meridian is related to a specific organ system which also possesses an emotion, a flavor and a season. In the winter months we crave more carbohydrate dense meals that are linked to the spleen meridian. In an acupuncture treatment, needling specific points related to imbalances in the meridians can dramatically elevate your mood. Tongue and pulse assessments will ensure that your treatment is individualized and caters specifically to your needs.   A series of 6-8 acupuncture sessions is sufficient, although significant improvements are generally seen just after 2 sessions!

Christianne James, Registered Massage Therapist

Manual Therapies such as Cranial Sacral Therapy, Lymphatic Activation and Massage during the winter months can provide much relief from the pesky symptoms of the winter blues. Treatments can boost your immune system, decrease anxiety and depression, help alleviate a foggy head, increase energy, promote stage IV sleep and increase circulation all of which can aid to restore balance and function to the body.   

Karen Gilman, Holistic Nutritionist

There are several dietary changes you can make to help boost your mood while waiting for spring to come.  Add Omega 3 fats to your diet! Certain inflammatory chemicals in the brain called cytokines can cause feelings of depression. Omega-3 fatty acids block the action of these cytokines. Research suggests vitamin D may help relieve symptoms of winter blues by boosting serotonin levels in the brain.  Vitamin D can be obtained from moderate sun exposure, but if you live in the northern hemisphere in the winter, getting enough sun exposure can be difficult.  Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to impaired mental function and depression and another important B vitamin, folate, may help boost your mood and reduce fatigue by helping your body produce serotonin. Ensure good intake of Vitamin D, B12 and folate during the winter months.

Make sure you eat breakfast each morning!  Eating a good breakfast is linked to better job (and school) performance and mood.  Eat protein at each meal and snack, hummous and veggies or almonds and apple slices, to regulate your blood sugar levels so you don’t get irritable during the day.  Make your plate interesting and colourful by adding different fruits and vegetables.  For more information on which foods to eat to help keep away the winter blues join me on Monday January 13 from 12:15 - 1:15pm for a ‘Food For Winter Blues Workshop’.  Cost of this workshop is $20.  To register, call 416-949-0164.

Dr. Ana Nozari, Naturopathic Doctor

Light Therapy and Melatonin are two treatments shown to be effective in improving the symptoms of winter blues. Light therapy could be as simple as getting out for a walk on a bright winter morning, or using a full spectrum light box in the morning hours. A low dose of the melatonin in the afternoon can reset the body’s clock to normal. See your Naturopathic Doctor for the best dose for you. Make sure to keep active in winter months, as exercise can improve your mood and burn off the extra calories we take in during holiday season.

Even though the winter months can bring on the blues, you are probably glad the running nose and itchy eyes or throat from seasonal allergies has finally subsided!  Did you know winter is the best time to address seasonal allergies if you want to be proactive and truly treat your seasonal allergies rather than taking numerous antihistamines or remedies? NAET treatments can effectively treat seasonal allergies, and the time to start treatment is now when you are not exposed to the environmental allergies.  A few months of regular treatments are needed to overcome symptoms.  Act now so you can fully enjoy the spring and summer seasons we eagerly wait for! Contact Dr. Ana Nozari ND for a short complimentary information session to answer any questions you may have regarding NAET treatments or visit www.naet-canada.com to learn more.