Burnout prevention: It's worth acting in good time!

In recent decades, the pace of life has been constantly accelerating. This often leads to stress, excessive demands or even depression. Take the symptoms seriously – and act in good time.

Who hasn't experienced it: the feeling when suddenly everything overwhelms you. You just want to escape to some far-off place – preferably, to the proverbial desert island. Because there, you'll finally be left in peace! To have the occasional bad day is of course entirely normal. But if you're constantly stressed and feeling overwhelmed, you should do something about it – or you'll be endangering your health. Exhaustion follows fatigue; debilitating lethargy follows the occasional lack of motivation. The road to a burnout is often insidious.

According to the Swiss Health Promotion Foundation every fourth worker in Switzerland suffers from stress. And stress places an even greater strain on resources. This imbalance gnaws at our energy reserves and makes us irritable and apathetic over time. The proportion of workers who feel exhausted amounted to almost 30% in 2018. Younger people are particularly affected: High demands on the part of the family, education or further training, associations and their circle of friends are often an additional strain – and suddenly, the red line has been crossed. What many people are unaware of: In a worst-case scenario, a burnout can lead to permanent damage.

Which symptoms of stress are dangerous?

• You are constantly running on full power, have trouble switching off and relaxing
• The joy and motivation you feel for your work disappear and you turn inward
• You feel empty, lethargic and apathetic over a longer period of time
• You neglect your friends and family and avoid social contacts
• You suffer from physical symptoms such as sleep disorders, infections, headaches and back pain, dizziness, unstable blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, tinnitus
• You increasingly consume addictive substances (tobacco, alcohol, medication, drugs)

How can I reduce stress?

• Learn to say "no." What may seem impossible to start with becomes easier over time. Practice sensing your limits. Be honest with yourself and others. If you keep on going until you can't go on any longer, no-one is the winner.
• Set priorities. This also means: Consciously accept compromises – both in terms of the quantity and quality of your work. If you aim for absolute perfection, you will be highly unlikely to ever fully reach your goals.
• Take care of yourself. You need to eat, sleep, move, socialize. Is being aware of your needs something you have difficulty with? Then beware! Ask a person close to you to watch over you and do their best to help you rediscover some joy.
• Forget about multitasking. It's long been proven that you can't do several things all at the same time. Interrupting yourself constantly is not only stressful, but also counterproductive. Practice doing one thing at a time. A timer can help.
• Reduce your digital stress. Put your mobile phone to one side as often as possible. Disable push messages. Only check your emails when it's really necessary. Do without social media for a while. The flood of information increases your stress.

When does psychotherapy make sense?

If you are already so deeply exhausted that you feel incapable of action, you should get help. Don't wait too long, even if you find it difficult. Talk with a person you trust or contact your family doctor. A therapy can help you regain the ground under your feet. The sooner you face up to the situation, the better.

While basic insurance only pays for the visit to a psychiatrist, many supplementary insurances offer compensation toward non-medical psychotherapy. AXA, for example, assumes 75% of the costs up to CHF 1,000 or CHF 3,000 per year if you have taken out Health PLUS or Health COMPLET. With just a few clicks on our website, you can compare the different product packages.