Health · Mental Health · 13 hrs ago
A psychologist’s burnout was linked to patterns learned in childhood
A psychologist called Mira sought help for burnout in her client work while also caring for her toddler and aging parents.
Her therapist said the demands of her job and caregiving left her feeling exhausted and responsible for others.
Mira’s therapist traced some of these habits to her childhood role in helping her depressed mother, which the therapist described as parentification.
Mira had learned to put her own feelings aside and focus on helping, the therapist said.
The burnout also appeared in her parenting, friendships and family life, not only at work.
The therapist said addressing it meant looking beyond work stress to deeper patterns of self-sacrifice and emotional restraint.
A psychologist called Mira* sought help for burnout after becoming tired and apathetic about her client work.
Her therapist linked the burnout to patterns of self-sacrifice, emotional over-control and intellectualization that had developed in childhood.
Mira had taken on responsibility for helping her mother during a period of severe depression.
Her burnout also affected her parenting and support for friends and family, and came with guilt when she stopped helping.
The therapist said successful treatment required looking beyond work to these deeper patterns.
- Who
- Mira*, a psychologist experiencing burnout.
- What
- She sought burnout support, and her therapist connected her difficulties to patterns learned in childhood.
- When
- Not stated.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- The therapist linked her burnout to self-sacrifice, over-control of emotions and intellectualization rooted in childhood experiences, alongside pressures at work and in caring roles.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Mira’s mother experienced a significant episode of depression and withdrew from the family for months, while Mira tried to help her recover.
Mira sought help for burnout as she became tired and apathetic about her client work.
In sessions, Mira and her therapist explored how her childhood patterns related to difficulties across work and other areas of life.
- Profession
- Psychologist
- Client name
- Mira*
- Mother’s illness
- A significant episode of depression
- Childcare
- Mira had a toddler daughter
- Other caring role
- She had begun caring for her aging parents
What people are saying
I feel squished by everyone’s needs
This is all I know to do. This is the only thing that makes sense for me
This is all I’ve ever wanted to do. I don’t know why I feel this way
Sources
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