Self-care is a gift to yourself, says philadelphia-based psychotherapist sarakay smullens, an author whose most recent book is burnout and self-care in social work: a guidebook for students and. The type of burnout that makes you avoid work, question the value of your existence, and eat large quantities of oreo cookies while watching bad television. it allows you to begin viewing yourself as a source of fun and laughter in your social or work group. then start digging your way out.. Social work burnout seems particularly common. while this is a career associated with serving others and impacting the world in a meaningful way, it's also incredibly demanding. it can put a professional through significant mental and physical strain while also requiring a considerable investment of time and effort..
To learn more about burnout among social workers and other helping professionals -- and what you can do to prevent or deal with it -- check out fried social worker, a site with information, self-tests and resources.. The negative effects of burnout spill over into every area of life—including your home, work, and social life. burnout can also cause long-term changes to your body that make you vulnerable to illnesses like colds and flu.. High work-related burnout in midwives, home care workers, and social workers in institutions for the mentally disabled, all of which are residential settings (borritz et al., 2006)..