Burnout Recovery: Intimate Story(Pt I) and Brain-Body Map (Pt II)

Part I of “Burnout Recovery” poetically captures my own personal descent into the “erosive spiral.”  Part II further sets the stage for recognizing the potential for as well as the power and prevalence of burnout.

 

Personal Discovery as Burnout Recovery:

An Intimate Story of Hell to Glory – Part I

Let me tell a story from burnout hell to some glory

In which you’ll discover six ways to recover.
But first some personal background, not particularly profound
Still, will set the stage for rage and “coeur-age.”
(Let me take “courage” apart; coeur is French for the word heart:
Unguarded heart and on purpose rage – the crux paradox of human courage.)

Like a Humpty who’s manic, dancing off the wall academic
Ready to SHOW one and all…alas, no grace; only disgraceful fall.
Compelled by mad genius; an out-rage-ous project
In the shadow of animus; little time to reflect
Trapped by the spurious:  you’re still a REJECT!
Get real, it’s now over, stripped of all cover.
Reduced to gray ash, bereft of PhD. sash
Finally raised the white flag…then packed my doctoral bag.

From Insult to Injury

The prolonged tension bred screaming stress symptoms

Not just dead on my feet; a scary cardiac beat.
No time to ponder…tied to a heart monitor.
The ceiling was spinning, on my knees crawling
From the bedroom to the kitchen; man was I bitchin…
How slow letting go of inner ear vertigo.

Still the ebb had some flow in this world a tad psycho:

Not running from shame; allowed time healing pain
To gently massage a much wounded brain
Now rubbing out some chronic self-doubt.
Yet still unseen a deep scarlet vein –
Critical source of deep-rooted ghost pain
To be touched in vain until grief tears pour like rain.

Transforming Fire to Controlled Burn Desire

One more silver lining, from heartfelt resigning

And mind rambling about:  becoming an expert on stress and burnout!
Beginning with an exercise regime,
Later sharing with friends those muted dreams
Slowly evolving my rehab scheme –
Reading for cathartic laughs, then for empathic light
Keeping a journal of dark insight; writing essays deep into the night.

And then a most dream-like meditation:

Could a healing haven birth a media maven?
“To be or not to be” stressed out on radio and TV.
Seemingly rolling lucky sevens…
The airwaves were hardly a ticket to heaven.
More a white knuckle flight path, with pockets of wrath
But once in spin, now buckled in
Finally learning the graph of bipolar math –
With a head med and depression confession
Could I still ride the tale of moonlight obsession?

Can a Phoenix Be Sadder yet Wiser?

Perhaps a bit sadder, nonetheless a survivor

Grappling as a learner despite feeling a loser…
Still seeking the edge of hard-earned knowledge:
A Phoenix may soar with high octane roar
Just don’t ignore:  sky-high needs a floor
For crafting self-worth while returning to earth.
For “R & R” – “Rest and Refuel” – before the next duel
Pitting passion and will; raising again one “wise fool” on the hill.

And next time, from out of the blue…skywriting Part II

So pay attention – the Six “R”s conception
Without exaggeration, “Burnout Rejuvenation.”

© Mark Gorkin 2013

Shrink Rap ™ Productions
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The Six “R” Road to Burnout Recovery – Part II:

The Stress Doc’s Strategic Brain-Body Map

Burnout-Prone Types

The best way to escape the burnout trap:

The Stress Doc’s ™ Strategic Recovery Map
The Map aligns “Six Curative ‘R’s”
A path for all beings – of Venus and Mars.

A path for HE Men – those strong silent types

Who hide complex feelings behind all kinds of stripes.
The “H” is for Humiliation, the “E” for Emptiness
Don’t expect ventilation; you’re asking them to undress!

A path for those SHE Men – martyrs and Saviors

So quick with an “Amen” when providing their favors.
Of course, expecting rewards for “selfless” behaviors.
But when feeling ignored, start rattling their sabers.
Not to play favorites as I rant and rail:
HE Men and SHE Men may be male or female.

Burnout Prone Spaces and Generations

In fact, all manner of types await burnout distress

When the workplace demands chronic “do more with less.”
Forever right-sizing, always upgrading
Are you starting to feel like a mere bill of lading?

How about those Millennials stressed by perennials?

The sound of those groans, the weight of their loans
Fighting the mob for a lottery job
Struggling with bills brings out all kinds of ills –
From family blaming to all-night video gaming.

When Anonymity Meets Insensitivity 

Virtual anonymity when lowering empathy

Alas, too often heightens combativity.
Someone makes you wail or bristle;
Forget f-2-f or the phone; configure the email
Start the countdown…launch that e-missile!

Will one implode or explode from the overload

Of non-stop noise and nano-attention?
Which brings us to the final question:
How to stay calm and sane “always on” hyper-media brain?

The Kingdom of Boredom or Does that Niche of Success

Have You Stuck in the Ditch of Excess?

Or is work way boring, devoid of all meaning.

A learning curve can’t be too steep
If doing the job in your sleep.
When the daily routine is devoid of mystery…
Now Mastery times Monotony equals sheer Misery!
If work leaves you weary; the same tired story
Better shake up the puzzle or you will be sorry.

I suspect you’re now ready for that Six “R” Strategy:

First there’s Running and Reading for a mind that’s misleading.
Next Retreating and Writing to become more en-light-ning.
Then Relating and Risk-Taking for a work-life awakening.
And with Part III we begin outlining “Recovery Strategy.”

© Mark Gorkin 2013

Shrink Rap ™ Productions

Mark Gorkin, the Stress Doc ™, www.stressdoc.com, acclaimed Keynote and Kickoff Speaker, Webinar Presenter, Retreat Leader and Motivational Humorist, is the author of Practice Safe Stress and The Four Faces of Anger. A former Stress & Violence Prevention consultant for the US Postal Service, "The Doc" is a Team Building and Organizational Development Consultant as well as a Critical Incident/Grief Intervention Expert for Business Health Services, a National Wellness/EAP/OD Company. Mark leads highly interactive, innovative and inspiring programs for corporations and government agencies, including the US Military, on stress and brain resiliency/burnout prevention through humor, change and conflict management, generational communication, and 3 "R" -- Responsible, Resilient & Risk-Taking -- leadership-partnership team building.

Email stressdoc@aol.com for his popular free newsletter & info on speaking programs and phone coaching sessions.