Being a part of the Blue Light community can be amazingly rewarding but also incredibly challenging.
As we enter Stress Awareness Month and with “69% of emergency responders claiming their mental health has deteriorated as a result of the pandemic”, according to Mind, we wanted to outline some of the most common signs of stress and burnout to watch out for.
Even when removing COVID from the equation; the long hours, intense workload, risk of personal harm and emotional suffering, and budgetary and staffing struggles – not to mention the struggle to connect with family due to varying shift patterns – all mean it’s not uncommon for our members to feel under immense pressure at home and at work.
Sometimes, however, it can be hard to pick up on whether you or your colleagues are just having an ‘off day’ or whether it's something more persistent that may need addressing. That’s why we wanted to outline some of the NHS’ most common signs of stress and burnout to watch out for, including:
- Consistently feeling overwhelmed
- Difficulty concentrating
- Regularly feeling irritable and easily frustrated
- Constantly feeling anxious and insecure
- A general feeling of apathy and indifference
- Isolation or disconnection from others
- Regularly feeling exhausted and having trouble sleeping
- Eating, drinking or smoking more than usual
When you’re taking care of everyone else, it’s important to also take care of yourself. So, whether it’s taking a much-needed break, treating yourself to a little TLC or saving that little bit more when connecting with colleagues over a brew and a biscuit; you know that we’re here for you whatever you need.
