To think some “burnout” is just people realising they hate their jobs?

[TheTidyShark]

Burnout gets talked about like it’s purely workload. But isn’t it often a sign people don’t even like what they’re doing? AIBU to think “burnout” sometimes masks job dissatisfaction?

No I don't. I was doing the same job for 20 years and genuinely enjoyed it but the pressure became more and more noticeable until I couldn't do it any more but it was the impact of that over time rather than just a year of being busy.

Surely you only have to watch the news occasionally to know that there is ?

I went through it, I had a job that I had once enjoyed but a steady increase of workload plus being treated badly built up stress, due to staff shortages i was given responsibility way beyond my experience or knowledge. In the end I hated my job and even now thinking about that whole industry makes my stomach tighten. Whether stress made me go from liking by job to hating it, or whether dislike of my job led to the stress I don't know.

You're absolutely right; of course there is. The poster is just being goady.

I always loved my job and would have probably agreed with you, then a combination of things, at work and elsewhere, have led to burnout to the extent that it's very hard to motivate myself anywhere, not just at work.

Sorry, I absolutely can't get on board with the notion that teaching is considered a traumatic job. Stressful, yes. Traumatic, no.

Do some teachers occasionally witness traumatic events? Yes, of course, as do many others in professions which aren't considered traumatic as standard.

As above, calling teaching a traumatic job is insulting to firemen, surgeons, those in the armed forces etc

Not agreeing that teaching is a traumatic job does not make someone goady (to the PP who is insistent that it does).

This is starting to detail the thread so I'll leave it here.

Teaching isn't just about teaching. They build realtionships with children living in the most horrendous circumstances and feel responsible for helping them. There are far more of those in an average class than you'd expect. It takes tremendous emotional toll.

I have been close to what I think was likely burnout and it wasn’t that I hated my job, but the workload was too high. It got the the point where I was unable to switch off and couldn’t sleep, eat or relax. It’s my inability to compartmentalise that caused it.

Cna you quote the person who stated that teaching is a traumatic job please (as opposed to the fact that there is sometimes trauma involved)? Thank you 😊

Burnout is emotional exhaustion, a loss of enjoyment or meaning in your work, and depersonalisation of those you work with/cynicism. Part of hating your job may well be associated with those factors but if you have them you're burnt out or on the way to it.

You can love your job and be protected in part by that sense of accomplishment even if you show high emotional exhaustion and some cynicism/depersonalisation. But you'll still be feeling on the road to burnout (I've met teachers who can still find huge meaning and a great personal satisfaction from their job, but ultimately burnout because the emotional strain is just too overbearing).

I work in this area because I started in menopause coaching and as it turns out there's a massive crossover between menopause and burnout risk, so I need to know about it. It's definitely more than just not liking your job.

Just noticed the teaching and trauma comment. Burnout causes hypervigilance of the nervous system which can lead to PTSD like symptoms or PTSD itself if the scenario is bad enough. In teaching if you face violence in the classroom or a need for frequent hyper vigilance of threats (verbal or physical) or ongoing bullying day to say by mgmt then yes teachers (or any profession facing similar scenarios) can experience trauma. It's not an insult to anyone in any other profession to say that, it's just how the nervous system works. There's lots of research on this.

Searched up burnout and came across this thread - hoping there’s a few still following.

Lots of the comments are around jobs where you’re working with people, be it social work etc. I’m in management of social care with (very) young and (extremely) traumatised children and families. I’m struggling.

I have a youngish family with no support, physically or financially, from their dad for the last 5-6 years. I rely solely on my own parents for any form of social life and every minute of childcare. My own grandparents are now older and unwell, although they did provide a large amount of childcare when they were able to. My parents are now in caring roles for their own parents whilst also supporting my children. Paternal family are somewhat helpful.

I am close to burnout and genuinely do not know what to do. I hate my once very much loved role. I earn very well and so cannot leave as I am a 1 parent household.

I feel stuck and resentful.

Are these feelings synonymous with social care? Is it my role? Is it shift work? Is it missing important (to my myself and my kids, not my management) parts of my own kids lives? I’ve missed too many parents evenings and birthday parties/days out to count at this point.

I have some holidays scheduled in for next month, is this enough or is it time for a trip to the doctor?