Burnout & Chronic Stress
When you’ve spent years looking after everyone else, it’s easy to forget what feeling well is supposed to feel like.
If you are constantly exhausted, struggling to switch off and no longer feel like yourself, you are not alone. Many current and former first responders and other caring professionals I work with have spent years pushing through stress before recognising that their health has gradually declined.
Burnout isn’t a sign of weakness - it is often the result of prolonged exposure to stress without enough opportunity for recovery.
Does this sound familiar?
You may recognise yourself if you:
Wake feeling tired, even after a full night’s sleep
Feel emotionally flat, irritable or disconnected
Struggle to switch off, even you are at home
Find everyday tasks more overwhelming than they used to be
Have difficulty concentrating or remembering things
Rely on caffeine or sugar just to get through the day
Feel like you’re just surviving rather than enjoying life
No longer recognise the person you used to be
If this sounds familiar - there may be more contributing to your symptoms than simply “working too hard”
What is Burnout?
The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines burnout as “an occupational phenomenon resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed”.
It is characterised by three dimensions:
• feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion
• increased mental distance from, or negativity towards, one’s job
• reduced professional efficacy
The WHO does not classify burnout as a medical condition but rather it is recognised as an occupational phenomenon that specifically relates to one’s workplace. However for many police officers, first responders and other caring professionals the effects of prolonged stress often extend well beyond work, affecting sleep, energy, relationships, physical health and overall quality of life.
Note: If you've been diagnosed with burnout, depression, anxiety or PTSD, nutrition and lifestyle support should complement, not replace, the care provided by your GP, psychologist or other healthcare professionals.
Why It Might Be Happening
One of the biggest misconceptions about burnout is that it simply about doing too much and having a short rest or break from work resolve the issues. It is rarely that straightforward.
Long-term stress can influence many areas of health, including:
• Nutrient status
• Blood sugar regulation
• Energy production
• Sleep Quality
• Gut Health
• Inflammation
• Recovery capacity
• Cognition
Rather than guessing, it is important to understand what may be contributing to your symptoms before developing a personalised nutrition, lifestyle and supplemental plan.
My Approach
When you have been under pressure for a long time, it is easy to assume that feeling exhausted, wired, anxious or unable to switch off is simply the result of stress. Chronic stress can affect many areas of your health including nutrition, sleep, blood sugar regulation, energy production and your ability to recover.
Depending on your circumstances, this may include:
A comprehensive health and lifestyle assessment looking at your symptoms, health history, stress load, sleep, diet, exercise & medications.
Review of pathology through a nutritional medicine lens looking beyond whether results are simply within the laboratory range.
Nutritional assessment to identify dietary patterns that may be contributing to inadequate nutrient intake, blood sugar fluctuations or difficulty meeting your body’s requirements.
Assessment of lifestyle factors including sleep, recovery, exercise, hydration and the demands currently being placed on your body.
Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) where appropriate to provide additional information about mineral status and patterns over time.
Nutrigenomic testing if genetic information may add another layer to your picture.
Personalised nutrition, lifestyle and supplement recommendations based on your individual findings and within my scope of practice.
Ongoing support, reviews and retesting as your symptoms and health change.
The aim is to understand what your body needs now and what may be making recovery more difficult.
Lauren Michel is a Certified Practising Nutritionist specialising in personalised clinical nutrition for people experiencing fatigue, stress and burnout, particularly police, emergency services, defence and other caring professionals. Telehealth consultations available Australia-wide.
“As a former police officer, I understand how easy it is to normalise exhaustion and keep pushing through because that is what the job expects us to do. One of the most rewarding parts of my work is helping people to realise that the symptoms aren’t something they simply have to expect. They are messages that deserve to be understood.”
Read more about the Operation Recovery Program here ➡
Ready to Begin Your Recovery?
If you’re feeling exhausted, overwhelmed or simply not like yourself, the first step isn’t finding another quick fix.
It’s understanding why your body is responding the way it is.
Together, we’ll investigate the factors that may be contributing to your symptoms and develop a personalised plan to support your health wellbeing.
Book in for a free, no-obligation strategy call to see if this is right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can nutrition help with burnout?
Burnout is a complex occupational phenomenon and recovery often involves addressing a range of workplace, psychological and physical factors. Nutrition provides your body with the building blocks it needs to support energy production, normal brain function, sleep, blood sugar regulation and overall health.
As a Certified Practising Nutritionist, my role is to investigate the nutritional and lifestyle factors that may be contributing to how you're feeling and develop a personalised plan that supports your health alongside the care provided by your GP, psychologist or other healthcare professionals where appropriate.
Is burnout the same as chronic stress?
Not exactly. Chronic stress refers to ongoing exposure to physical, emotional or psychological stressors. Burnout is recognised by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an occupational phenomenon resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.
Many of the symptoms can overlap, including fatigue, poor concentration, disrupted sleep and feeling overwhelmed. Understanding what may be contributing to your symptoms is an important first step in determining the most appropriate support for your individual circumstances.
How do I know if I need support?
If you are feeling exhausted despite resting, finding it difficult to recover between shifts, struggling with poor sleep, losing motivation or simply not feeling like yourself, it may be time to seek support. You don’t need to wait until your are completely overwhelmed before asking for help. Many people find that addressing concerns early provides an opportunity to better understand what is contributing to their symptoms and develop practical strategies to support their health and wellbeing.
If you are experiencing severe distress, thoughts of self-harm or concerns about your immediate safety, seek urgent support from your GP, local emergency department or emergency services.
Still have questions?
If you are unsure whether nutritional support is right for you, or would like to learn more about how I work, book in your free no-obligation strategy call and have a chat.