None of us can escape burnout. It happens from time to time when you’re continuously overtired and exhausted. Burnout’s a combination of constant stress, working for long hours, and unresolved drain piling up all at once.
But can you stop burnout for good?
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy is one of the best methods for managing burnout. It helps you understand and heal the different parts of yourself that are causing stress and exhaustion.
What Does Burnout Feel Like?
Burnout happens stage by stage but usually starts with detachment from work or feeling accomplished. Some of the most common signs include:
- Constant fatigue, even after resting
- Difficulty focusing or getting tasks done
- Feeling irritable
- Feeling detached from your job or relationships
- Feeling “stuck” or hopeless
The longer you let burnout go unchecked, the longer and more difficult recovery becomes.
Can You Stop Burnout for Good?
Burnout doesn’t have to be permanent but it won’t go until you find out its root causes and resolve them. Before any mental work, slow down. It won’t be easy to let go, but it’s the first step towards breaking the cycle. Take a few days off work, rediscover hobbies that make you happy and relaxed, and start a self-care routine.
Then, dig deeper into your emotional patterns and internal conflict. Therapy is the fastest way to resolve those feelings. But if you aren’t ready to start, we’ve got some book recommendations for you. No Bad Parts by Richard Schwartz and Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily and Amelia Nagoski are great to start with.
How Does IFS Therapy Help With Burnout?
IFS Therapy is an evidence-based approach that views the mind as a collection of sub-personalities or “parts.” Each part plays a role in how we handle our day-to-day lives, emotions, and stress.
Some parts protect us from conflict, while others try to seek approval to avoid feeling unworthy. Sometimes they clash, which leads to conflict. Let us explain. Let’s say you’ve been studying for a whole week for 10 hours each day. You start to feel exhausted. One part within you would want to rest and recover, but another wants to push to get things done. It’s like a tug-of-war that eventually feels like a burnout.
Here are a few ways IFS therapy helps with burnout:
1. Understands Your Inner World
Until you resolve the conflict or tug-of-way within you, you will feel tense. Your IFS therapy will help you identify these parts, the motive behind their emotions and intentions, and resolve issues.
2. Heals the Inner Critic
People who are overly critical about themselves tend to experience burnout often, which also makes them push themselves and achieve bigger and better things. But that’s not healthy. It might feel like one of your parts is protecting you from failure but it’s actually pushing you towards burnout.
3. Builds Self-Compassion
Self-compassion is a big part of IFS Therapy. It connects you with your “Self,” also known as your core and is described as calm, compassionate, and confident. When you make decisions or operate from your Self, you heal from within, set boundaries, and allow yourself to take breaks.
4. Creates Lasting Change
That’s a common goal in all therapies. You’ll develop self-reliance and build healthy coping strategies for stress. This deeper work helps reduce burnout intensity and allows you to recognize early signs, so you can take action immediately.
How to Get Started with IFS Therapy?
Find a therapist that specialises in IFS therapy and combines it with mindfulness exercises, visualizations, and guided conversations with your internal parts. In the initial sessions, it’s common to experience strong emotions. It’s good to have people you love nearby. Your therapist can also teach you ways to stay calm and deal with your feelings.
If you’re in Ontario, I’m here to offer my IFS therapy services to support your healing. Please request a free consultation today.