When Stress and Burnout Feel Overwhelming: How Psychological Testing Can Help
In a modern world where juggling a demanding career, family obligations, and academic pressure is the norm, it’s no wonder so many are facing burnout symptoms. Over time, a lack of stress relief can lead to physical and mental health issues that impact your daily quality of life.
However, even when you don’t know how to tackle the symptoms of chronic stress, you can start the process of personalized, effective treatment through psychological testing. These comprehensive assessments, administered by licensed psychologists, can provide valuable insights into your emotional and cognitive functioning. This information is then used to develop a treatment plan that addresses your specific feelings of stress and burnout.
Read on to discover how psychological testing guided by the latest burnout research can offer relief from the mental exhaustion caused by daily life.
Part 1: Understanding Stress and Burnout
Stress can be a natural, and even helpful, response to high-demand situations. However, when it becomes chronic, the inevitable burnout that follows exacerbates emotional, mental, and physical illness. From persistent stomach aches and other anxiety symptoms to oversleeping and a general lack of motivation, stress can present itself through a variety of symptoms.
Here are some common causes of chronic stress, as well as how identity potential symptoms:
Chronic Stress at Work
Did you know that 83% of U.S. workers struggle with work-related stress? When there’s a lack of work-life balance and feelings of little or no control, job burnout is quick to follow. Anything from heavy workloads, tight deadlines, job insecurity can contribute to chronic fatigue and stress. Here are some signs work may be the cause of your stress:
- Still feel emotional exhaustion and burnout symptoms after a full night’s sleep.
- Are less productive on the job or struggle to focus on tasks.
- Experience frequent headaches, muscle tension, or digestive issues.
- Struggle to manage negative emotions at work.
- Avoid work-related tasks and generally disengaging from your job.
Chronic Stress at School
For college students and elementary schoolers alike, academic stress can take a toll on your personal life. From pressure to succeed academically to social challenges and bullying, there are a variety of ways school can contribute to prolonged stress. You may be experiencing school-related stress if you have:
- Intrusive thoughts, worries, and anxieties related to grades and academic performance.
- Difficulty concentrating or completing assignments.
- Feel overwhelmed by and struggle to meet regular deadlines.
- Experience headaches or stomach aches directly before, during, or after classes.
- Withdraw from social activities or express generally antisocial behavior.
Chronic Stress at Home
Families are complicated, and whether you’re dealing with children, parents, or siblings, it can be hard to meet constant demands from others. Anything from toxic family dynamics, financial concerns, or addiction can cause too much stress at home. Common signs of home-related stress include:
- Constantly feeling overwhelmed by familial responsibilities.
- Consistent arguments and tension between family members.
- Difficulty relaxing or engaging with self-care practices at home.
- Poor sleep habits and frequent fatigue.
- Feeling emotionally drained or disconnected from loved ones.
Part 2: Understanding the Role of Psychological Testing
Psychological tests and assessments are a research-backed method used by psychologists to determine your current emotional, cognitive, and behavioral functioning. The process typically involves a combination of standardized assessments, clinical interviews, and observational techniques.
If you’re chronically stressed, the results can help professionals determine the best ways to overcome burnout and chronic stress.
How Psychological Testing Can Help with Stress and Burnout
Psychological testing is not just about diagnosis—it’s one of the best ways to become more self-aware and develop the most effective coping mechanisms. Here’s how testing with a mental health professional can contribute toward stress relief:
1. Identifying the Root Cause of Stress
As touched upon in the previous part, anything from work-life balance to academic pressures can cause stress. Psychological testing can help you determine these external causes, as well as internal mental health struggles like anxiety, depression, ADHD, and other underlying conditions that contribute to the stress response. By pinpointing the source, your mental health provider can provide more effective treatment plans and coping strategies.
2. Assessing Cognitive Functioning
Neuropsychological tests, in particular, can help identify chronic stress by analyzing impaired memory, poor attention span, and problem-solving skills. By evaluating your cognitive abilities, these tests can help you understand how chronic stress impacts your mental clarity and daily performance. They can also be used by your psychologist to further personalize your treatment plan.
3. Creating a Personalized Treatment Plan
Habitual burnout is no joke, but accurate testing can inform the most effective treatments. For example, if your test shows that you struggle with symptoms of ADHD and job burnout, your therapist then tailor sessions that address those specific causes of stress. Psychological testing can also help them determine your unique challenges, quirks, and strengths, creating a more open and stress-free environment from the beginning.
4. Providing Accommodations
If you’re struggling with depression, burnout, or anxiety in school or at work, psychological assessments may allow you to qualify for important accommodations. In academic settings, a 504 Plan or Individualized Education Plan can help you manage chronic stress by providing extra time on tests, small-group testing, use of communication-assistive technology, and more. Likewise, the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) offers protections for people with certain diagnoses at work.
5. Early Intervention For Long-Term Stress Relief
Over time, chronic stress can contribute to more serious health issues like high blood pressure, heart disease, and more. However, by detecting signs of physical and emotional burnout early, you can take steps to prevent further damage. After testing, your psychologist will start working with you right away to maintain a healthy body and mind.
Who Can Benefit from Psychological Testing?
Anyone of any age and background who struggles with chronic stress can benefit from psychological testing. You might consider pursuing medical diagnosis and treatment if you are a:
- Working Professional: Fast-paced and high-pressure careers can quickly lead to burnout, even when you enjoy your job. Testing can help you identify stress patterns associated with your work and teach you strategies for reducing mental fatigue.
- Student: From the need to perform academically to social challenges like isolation and bullying, school also contributes to stress. A psychological evaluation can teach you about your unique learning style, strengths and difficulties, so you can perform while maintaining your mental health.
- Parents and Caregiver: Taking care of a child is an extremely rewarding, but also overwhelming responsibility. When caregiving starts to impact your mental and physical health, psychological testing can help identify emotional strain and guide self-care practices.
- Older Adult: Even if you’re not working or taking classes, psychological assessments can help you navigate life transitions, memory concerns, and stress management as you age.
Choosing The Right Psychologist: How FPSCA Can Help
When struggling with chronic stress, whether caused by your career, mood disorders, or a combination of internal and external factors, it’s important to choose a psychologist that specializes in your unique circumstances. The more specialized, the more accurate your test results will be.
At Family Psychological Services, we take psychological testing and treatment seriously. While other tests only scratch the surface of evaluating the causes of your chronic stress, we’re dedicated to providing comprehensive testing sessions based on:
- Adherence to the Latest Standards: We adhere to rigorous American Psychological Association and World Health Organization guidelines for test construction and construct validity.
- Tailored Evaluations: Each test is designed to address excessive stress symptoms and your personal goals to provide the most accurate results.
- Comprehensive Approach: We use various tests, including achievement and ability tests, to paint a complete picture of your psychological functioning.
Take Control of Chronic Stress at FPSCA
At Family Psychological Services, we offer psychological assessments for identifying symptoms and causes of chronic stress. Whether you’re struggling with work-related burnout or academic stress, our team of certified professionals have extensive experience diagnosing and treating issues associated with chronic stress.
Contact us today to start your journey toward mental clarity, balance, and well-being. Whether you have questions about our services or are ready to schedule an appointment, we look forward to connecting with you.
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