If you are a Dental Hygienist reading this, then you know about dental hygiene burnout. Its real, its painful, its a pandemic in itself, and it feels like you're drowning in a neverending title wave.
There are many factors that contribute to hygiene burnout, and although it may be surprising to believe, you actually may be creating the burnout for yourself.
Here is how this happens...
It starts with YOU.
Burnout is a mental and emotional response to your outside surroundings, accompanied with the feelings of control, or rather the lack thereof.
When you do not feel like you have control over an area of your life, that feels exhausting right? It feels like a daily struggle of trying to do the right thing while never receiving what it is you need.
BURNOUT = CONFLICT
This conflict that is occuring within you on an emotional and mental level, becomes physical.
Lets look at stress for a moment.
Stress is actually an emotional-mental response. When this emotional-mental response is not addressed, stress then becomes physical. We can feel stress as tense muscles in our neck, jaw, and back, and this stress (that originated as an emotional-mental response) can manifest a heart attack which is obviously physical.
RDH, are you aware of the mind-body connection? Well, if you are experiencing burnout then its imperative you learn about it for your own sanity!
Burnout is a condition that begins in the mind with your thoughts, and if ignored, becomes physical.
Your thoughts may be something like this...
- I'm working as hard as I can but I never get a break, or recognition for it (but you keep doing it)
- No one appreciates what I am doing for them (but you keep doing it)
- I'm so exhausted, mentally, emotionally, and physically (but you keep doing it)
- I can't do this anymore (but yet you keep doing it)
- I don't have any other options but to do this work (and you keep doing it)
- I should have chosen a different profession (but here you are still doing it)
When you repeat these types of thoughts, but do nothing to improve the situation that is causing these thoughts, you are creating your very own burnout through the internal conflict happening within your mind! When you do not improve your mental emotional state, issues begin to manifest in the physical realm of the body... your body!
Aches and pains, depression and mental exhaustion are a sure sign of the mind-body connection and not addressing what is going on within yourself.
So what do you do??
- LISTEN. Become an observer of your thoughts. What are you telling yourself everyday? Are your thoughts on a rampage? Begin to understand how this is hurting you.
- ADVOCATE. Become an advocate for yourself! The only person who knows exactly what you need is you, and you must stand up for yourself. This is self care!
- BOUNDARIES. Create boundaries and stop people pleasing in your dental office. This is an absolute must if you want to stop feeling burned out!
- EMPOWER. You are in control of your life. Empower yourself by owning this fact! It may contradict the views of your employer or team, and if so then you need to take control and evaluate what better options are available to you.
When we are burned out in our career, it really is about the fear of moving forward, fear of hurting others, and fear of taking a stand on what is better for ourselves.
Burnout is conflict in our hearts, our souls, and not listening (ignoring) to that voice within that knows what is best.
YOU CAN TURN YOUR BURNOUT AROUND! But its up to you to save yourself!
- Get a mentor to help
- Find support in your community
- Create a plan of action to get out of your burnout rut
- Follow through!
It is possible to live happily in this profession! You can do it!