There’s an argument to be made that we’re more burnt out than ever – that more and more people are overworked, overwhelmed, and overstimulated in a way that is causing physical, emotional, and psychological exhaustion.
There are countless reasons for this:
- We’re working harder than ever before.
- We’re stimulated by screens all day.
- We’re getting less sleep.
- We’re performing tasks with less help, etc.
- We’re no longer given opportunities to relax.
These are universal experiences that most of us have, which is why so many across the US are feeling immense burnout that is affecting our mental health.
Still, I am a therapist in San Francisco, and it’s easy to see that burnout here in SF appears to be even more common than in other areas of California, and certainly other parts of the world. Why is it that the Bay Area might have more burnout than other places, and what can we do to help solve it?
The Effects of SF on Burnout
Burnout is a complicated emotion. It doesn’t have a formal definition, but it can best be described as a feeling like as though you’re emotionally and psychologically depleted, empty, and exhausted.
What causes this from person to person can vary. But here in SF, there are many issues that make us uniquely at risk:
- Excessively Stimulated – Most of us work in front of a computer all day, only to be on our tech (usually phones) at night. That is an immense amount of stimulation that our brains simply are not equipped to handle. What’s worse is that we often feel like we’re more relaxed when we do these activities, but behind the scenes are brains are becoming more and more stressed by the stimulation.
- Overworked and Financially Stressed – San Francisco is the second most expensive city in the United States and has some of the worst protections for those that need financial support. People here are overworked, either at their tech jobs or at working more than one job to pay for the high cost of living. Many people also fear layoffs, which are more common here than any other city in the United States. Living in constant financial fear is a level of stress that can lead to burnout.
- It’s Loud – We mentioned earlier that burnout is linked to overstimulation, and stimulation does not have to come from any one place. It’s loud and bright in San Francisco, which can make it hard to even feel settled or relaxed. Even when we’re in a quieter spot, like our car, we may be faced with the stress of traffic and poor driving. All of this makes it harder to ever relax.
- Culture – SF culture is vibrant and fun, but it is not necessarily designed for relaxation. On the street, many people are closed off and avoid social situations. We tend to go to bars and street festivals and concerts during our free time. There are not many activities where relaxation is the goal.
These are only some of the issues that are specific to San Francisco.
Can you think of others?
Burnout is a problem for anyone, no matter where you live. But it’s certainly been an issue here, and one that is affecting people’s emotional and psychological health. If you’d like therapy for burnout in SF, please reach out to me today. My name is Esther Oh, a psychotherapist and mental health specialist, and I be happy to help you overcome your burnout and live a more relaxed, content life.