Mental Burnout

Have you ever known overthinking is unhelpful but can't stop?  Did you feel drained despite doing nothing?

Do you dwell on others' comments for days? Do you frequently doubt yourself and obsess over minor issues?

Do you lack confidence and feel incapable of accomplishing anything?

You are possibly experiencing mental burnout......

Mental burnout, or "inner conflict," is not a psychological term but rather a state of internal war within oneself, leading to mental fatigue. When this internal strife occurs, it hinders one's ability to cope with external competition and societal pressures. Despite not engaging in much activity, one still feels overwhelmingly tired—this is a manifestation of mental burnout.

Mental burnout typically stems from three main categories:

1. Excessive Defense Mechanisms Against the External World

This involves a heightened or preemptive state of vigilance. For example, individuals with anxiety disorders often exhibit this condition. In such a state, most energy is focused on defending oneself from perceived external harm. This heightened tension means one is constantly monitoring others for malicious intent, obsessing over their thoughts, and trying to control all dynamics. This hyper-alert state drains mental energy, leaving no room to focus on life's actual affair.

2. Disordered Perception Systems
The human body has two “selves”:

One is innate and operates through pure sensation, devoid of judgment—it simply flows with the experience.

The other is shaped by desires, thoughts, and emotions, aiming for purpose-driven, tangible outcomes like seeking benefits or avoiding harm.

When these two systems clash, internal conflict arises. For instance, the sensation system may register pain as a neutral experience, but the consciousness system labels it as "suffering" and attempts to avoid it. This mismatch creates inner turmoil. If such dissonance occurs frequently—such as wanting to take risks while another part of you fears danger—it results in anxiety and frustration. This is the essence of perception system disorder: a lack of harmony between sensation and consciousness layers.

3. Difficulty Accepting Oneself
Many people pursue psychology or knowledge to heal their past selves. However, this logic is flawed. The past shapes the present, and the present shapes the future. In this sense, the "past self" holds higher precedence. As the saying goes, "You may never surpass the glowing version of your past self." Healing, therefore, is about the past self healing the present self—not the other way around.

If you fail to accept your past self, you are essentially denying your present self, which leads to significant inner conflict. Accepting yourself reduces mental burnout, whereas self-blame, self-judgment, and self-criticism amplify it, sometimes to the point of self-harm.

The Way to Stop Mental Burnout 

1. Recognize Mental Burnout

Awareness is the first step. Once you identify the issue, you can work toward growth.

2. Stop Pursuing Perfection
The world will never align perfectly with your desires. Instead of exhausting yourself on the pursuit of perfection, relax and embrace life's imperfections. Leave room for flexibility.

3. Avoid Negative Spirals
Learn decision-making skills, research your options deeply, consider others' perspectives, and once you've made a choice, trust it as the best decision and give it your all.

4. Break Free from Limitations
Life is finite—about 30,000 days, with only 24 hours each day. Constantly setting limits for yourself creates a self-imposed prison. Be bold and break the chains of "impossibility."

5. Stop Living for Others

Shift focus from yourself to others and the collective. Over-concentration on yourself breeds mental fatigue.

Practice self-acceptance. You don't need everyone's approval. Even with flaws, you remain valuable.

Learn to separate issues. Pain motivates change, and those who change benefit. How others perceive you is their issue—you can't control it, nor do you have the right to.

6. Stop Self-Blame

• Test your self-esteem level and determine if it needs improvement.
• Identify self-blaming thoughts and actively remind yourself to stop when they arise.

You have always been wonderful, all you need is to rediscover yourself ...