Psychological exhaustion, when the last straw breaks the camel’s back

Psychological exhaustion weakens us physically and mentally. It is a dimension that arises as a result of the “too many”: too many decisions, too many intrusive thoughts, too much work, obligations, interruptions, anxieties… At the same time, it is also the reflection of many “few”: little quality time for oneself, few hours of sleep, little inner calm…

We have all experienced this feeling at some point, this wear and tear at all levels. It is important to keep in mind that a fatigued, psychologically exhausted brain works and responds to stimuli in a different way. Thus, and as a curious fact, the neuroscientist Matthew Walker was able to demonstrate at the laboratory level that Mentally tired people have a more negative perception of their reality and are also much more sensitive on an emotional level.

On the other hand, an aspect that sometimes leads us to mistakes is to think that this psychological exhaustion is due, in essence, to a fateful accumulation of errors, bad decisions, failures or disappointments. It isn’t true. Most of the time, fatigue It is the direct result of an excessive volume of tasks and activities that we assume without realizing that they surpass us.

We have all heard that the perception of our reality sometimes depends on how we see the glass, whether it is half full or half empty. However, and in relation to the present topic, we could formulate the question another way: and you… How much water could you hold if you had that cup in your hand? Sometimes, just one more drop is enough to break the camel’s back and reach the limit of our strength.

Psychological exhaustion, an all too common problem

Carlos feels satisfied with his life, in fact, he couldn’t ask for more. He is a graphic designer, he likes his work, he has a partner that he adores and he also just became a father. Everything around him is satisfactory, there is no major problem in his life; However, every day he notices that it is more difficult for him to make decisions, his mood is more taciturn, he cannot concentrate and he even has trouble falling asleep.

He feels unable to understand what is happening to him. Everything is going well, in fact she should feel happier than ever; however, In your mind there is a kind of sensor that tells you that “something is wrong, that something is wrong.”. If we had an external observer in this story, he could explain several things to us that would help our protagonist.

One of them is that Carlos You have the feeling that too many things are happening at once in your life: a promotion, new professional projects and clients to satisfy, a child, a mortgage, the consolidation of a personal stage where you want (it is demanded) that everything is “perfect”… All of this gives shape to a constellation where “many few” they make a “too much” in their head, jeopardizing their ability to control. His mental exhaustion is evident, as well as exhausting. Let’s see below how mental fatigue impacts us.

Signs and consequences of psychological exhaustion

Physical fatigue and loss of energy. The feeling of exhaustion sometimes reaches such a level that it is common to get up in the morning with the firm conviction that we will not be able to cope with our day.Insomnia. At first it is common to suffer sudden awakenings at night, but later we can experience serious difficulties falling asleep.Memory leaks. According to an article published in the magazine ““The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology”, psychological exhaustion usually produces a cognitive alteration called the “misinformation effect.” It is where we confuse data, where we evoke information incorrectly, mixing images, people, situations…Among the physical symptoms, it is common to experience palpitations, digestive problemsheadaches, loss of hunger or an excessive increase in appetite…On an emotional level It is very characteristic to feel more sensitiveat the same time as apathetic, irritable and pessimistic. Likewise, another common characteristic is anhedonia; that is, inability to feel pleasure, to enjoy things As much as before, we are no longer excited, life becomes grayer and the world remains suspended on a distant horizon where we only hear its rumor from a distance…

How to deal with psychological exhaustion

Eric Hoffer said that the worst fatigue comes from work not done. It is a great truth. Sometimes true exhaustion is made up of everything we want to do and don’t do. For all those daily objectives that we set for ourselves and that surpass us, those that we do not reach, those that remain frustrated because our level of demand is too high or the pressures from the environment are excessive.

In the end it happens, the last straw breaks the camel’s back and the glass is already too heavy. That’s when everything gets out of hand. Thus, what we should do in these cases and first of all, is to become aware of what is happening to us. Psychological exhaustion is there and we must prevent the “creature” from becoming bigger, darker and more oppressive. Let us therefore reflect on the following dimensions, on those steps that we should put into practice later.

3 permissions you should give yourself to clear the clouds of mental fatigue

Give yourself permission to meet again. It may seem ironic, but psychological exhaustion tends to imprison us in layers of worries, self-demands, pressures, duties and anxieties to the point of forgetting ourselves. Give yourself permission to rediscover yourself and to do so, there is nothing better than enjoying an hour a day where you can reduce all stimuli as much as possible (no sounds, no artificial lights…). Let’s find a quiet environment where we can limit ourselves to “being and being”.Give yourself permission to prioritize. This is undoubtedly an essential point. Remember what is a priority for you, what identifies you, what you love, what makes you happy. The rest will be secondary and will not deserve such an emotional and personal investment on your part.Give yourself permission to be less demanding. There are 24 hours in a day and life, whether we like it or not, has a limited quota. Let’s learn to be realistic, to take advantage of time without putting pressure on ourselves, high standards or the desire for everything to be perfect. Sometimes, it is enough for everything to be the same as yesterday, with its humble and calm balance.

To conclude, we know that our reality is increasingly demanding, that sometimes we want to reach everyone and everything; However, it doesn’t hurt to remember an idea. We are made of skin, flesh, heart and psychological tendons that must also be nourished by quality time, rest, calm and leisure. Let’s learn to prioritize ourselves, to take care of ourselves as we deserve…

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