Burnout
Burnout is a word that gets thrown around a lot at vet school; many of us even have personal experience with it. But what does it actually mean, and what can we do about it?
Burnout
Burnout syndrome is defined as a result of chronic academic stress that is not reduced by students because of personal resources depletion and constant overwhelming study demands of the university environment.
WHO describes the 3 dimensions of burnout:
Feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion;
Increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one's job; and
Reduced professional efficacy.
VS
Brain Fog
Brain fog isn’t actually a medical condition, but rather a term used to describe the feeling of being mentally sluggish and fuzzy. However, it can be a symptom of other health conditions.
Brain fog feels like a lack of mental clarity; it can affect your ability to focus and make it difficult for you to recall things.
Ultimately, brain fog can impact the way you feel about yourself. Individuals often do not feel like themselves as the loss of mental sharpness feels foreign to them.
What can I do?
Depending on the severity of your situation there are different options available. Talk to your Year Coordinator to see what ones might work best for you. These may include, taking a year out, applying for an aegrotat assessment, or deferring an exam….
You are not alone in this.
“The brain burnout in 4th year is so real and underestimated… I’ve gotten to a point where I feel like I literally cannot fit anything else in.”
“For me, burnout looked like constant fatigue. Inability to concentrate, brain fog for even simple things, emotional numbness, struggling to do the basics (cooking, cleaning, hygiene). Basically I was a shell of a person.”
“Everything is just starting to melt into one big pile of noise.”
“Shell of a person" is a phrase I use to describe myself too… It’s not a nice place to be.”
“I think everyone is just a huge cabbage mode at the moment.”
“There is definitely light at the end of the tunnel.”
“How does everyone motivate themselves after a break? Was hoping to come back refreshed and excited to learn again, but this week has just been a flop.”
“The bare minimum in third year is an accomplishment in itself.”
“Make sure you lean on those around you for support.”