How long did you work in the psychology or social work field before feeling burned out and needing a break?

Question

And upon your return did you feel re-energized and fresh, or just more rested than before?

Answer 1

Hi Quentin, I can understand your feeling because I have been there. I have worked in the Mental Health field for years. I had started as soon as I graduated from high school. I started for the State of Illinois in the mental Health department. Working as MHT and working myself up to MHTIII, took me 12 yrs. In 1986 I was having a burn out to where I needed to find another line of work and quickly before I completely went bonkers. So I decided to leave and become someone I was not in another line of work. And what I meant by that.. was I had worked for so long for the Mental Health that I wasn't satisfied with any other line of work but I pushed myself. I shouldn't have left because I lost my retirement with this particular employment so I should have kicked myself in the royal butt! After about 3 yrs in working in another line of business, I missed my regular line of work with the Mental Health. So I decided to go back and I'm glad I did because I really enjoyed my work plus I was accomplishing my hopes and dreams by assisting others to where it made me feel good about myself.Going back gave me a great boost of energy so I guess the answer is "yes" it engerized me to the fullest. Now I can say that I have now worked for the Mental Health department for over 28 yrs. strong.Have a blessed day!

Answer 2

I felt burned out at about the 14 year mark, however it was more a result of the setting i was in rather than the field itself. Taking a break was not an option as i am responsible for my family's income, so I changed jobs and that was enough to completely change my feelings. Finding a place to work where you are valued and supported and continuing to constantly educate yourself on new advances is the best strategy to avoid burn out along with excellent supervision.
I also changed my role and became a clinical supervisor where i had the opportunity to really impact and change systems that did not work and that made an enormous difference for me also.

Answer 3

I felt the feeling of uselessness about 6 mo into the field when I became acutely aware of the high recitivism rate. After a year of working with predominantly the same patients for the same reason, I started to get overwhelmed. I now volunteer at Senior centers etc to get my nurturing "high", and stay away from the mental health field. With no disrespect to the psychological profession, my experience was that most of the staff were as unwell if not more from hiding it, than the patients. Kind of that physician trying to heal themselves kind of thing.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

i work with adolescent drug addicts and if it weren't for my spiritual health i wouldn't be able to handle it for more than a few days. It can be a very intense and stressful atmosphere when you have to watch 24 teenaged boys who love to incite discord and chaos as often as possible, like setting off false alarms, fighting with staff, disrespecting their peers and staff, needing constant redirection and structure, making it a point to call you everything but your name. But ya gotta love em, right???
What helps is that i was once a teenager and remember how difficult it was ; and now that i'm a parent there usually sn't a week that goes by that i don't "ding" my head and say "damn, they were right about that too".
Hang in there, compadre, and know that the best is yet to come.Much love to you; and remember, we do more good than we can possibly imagine ( although when someone is screaming "motherf****ker at you it doesn't occur to you )

Answer 6

After completing my BA in social work, I did a 9 month internship in an organization that provided housing related services for people with HIV/AIDS, then worked for 5 months in state child welfare (foster care) in Georgia, then in child welfare (adoption end of foster care) for THREE months in Miami, Florida.

I don't know if I was burned out, or if I just figured out social work was the wrong field for me. I think too many hours are expected of social workers--their jobs are hard enough without having to work so many hours. I found that my job expectations were VERY unclear and the supervision was too minimal in child welfare. In my opinion, in school they teach social work as a profession, but in practice it's more like a para-profession because of the massive amount of job responsibilities (in child welfare). State child welfare workers can do a lot of "taxi-driving" of clients which is really humiliating and frustrating. I remember many times having plans after work and having to cancel them because one of my clients acted out and had to move to another shelter. I don't even like to think about those days!

Now I am studying to be a community college Spanish and ESL professor. :)

Answer 7

Honestly, I live, eat and breathe psychology, but did not pursue that career, even though I would have been really good at it, simply because of that reason. The social workers that work around me, always seem very stressed!

Answer 8

2 yrs and I haven't went back yet. I really think it was the lack of support I recieved from my superiors fresh out of grad school. I'll go back when a good opportunity arises.

Answer 9

3-5 years.......You ned a fresh outlook thats for sure.

Answer 10

I feel burned out too if I were these guys: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b30iwhEw9ho&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fprofile%2Emyspace%2Ecom%2Findex%2Ecfm%3Ffuseaction%3Duser%2Eviewprofile%26friendid%3D55073312