Burnout is a real risk for professionals in the helping professions, which include UFT members in education and health care. If you feel dread at the prospect of going to work, you may be suffering from this condition.

Burnout can cause you to feel depleted, cynical and unmotivated. While many workers report feeling ashamed of having these feelings, it is in fact normal in jobs that involve competing demands from administrators, colleagues, families and students or patients. It doesn’t reflect negatively on who you are as a person or a professional. In fact, people can feel two different emotions at the same time: You can love many aspects of your job yet also feel deeply frustrated by its demands.

Try approaching the challenge by thinking about what’s most important to you in your work, and strategize ways to cope with what you can’t control. It can be helpful to write down the issues that bother you. The act of writing transfers the experience to your logical mind. You may find some of the solutions you’re seeking through this simple exercise.

When you’re feeling overwhelmed, remember to breathe and to engage your senses. Focus on things you can see, hear, smell, touch and taste. This can ground you in the present moment and change your focus.

Work can be especially stressful for new teachers or nurses, who may not have anticipated all the challenges. Don’t forget to speak up and ask for support and advice from your colleagues.

Other suggestions:

• Broaden your network of support, whether at work or outside of work.
• Practice the skills taught in dialectical or cognitive behavioral therapy, two forms of talk therapy that are practical and situation-oriented. You can join a dialectical behavioral therapy group offered by the UFT’s Member Assistance Program to in-service members for free.

MAP is also available to provide short-term help or direct you to longer-term assistance.

Call the UFT Member Assistance Program at 212-701-9620 to speak with a licensed clinician or email MAPinfo [at] uft [dot] org (MAPinfo[at]uft[dot]org).