In Case You Haven't Heard…

Abstract

The frustrating, heartbreaking and unpredictable events of the past months demanded so much, USA Today reported Jan. 12. Many people had to learn new ways of working, of caring for and teaching their children, and of staying healthy and remaining connected. The burden of their responsibilities seemed to grow heavier by the day, and if they did find a moment to lay down the load, they'd turn on the television to see hundreds of thousands dead from COVID‐19 or a raging mob at the U.S. Capitol, according to USA Today. Emotional exhaustion is not a specific clinical syndrome, but mental health experts say it can lead to, or be accompanied by, other mental health conditions, like a major depressive disorder. “Emotional exhaustion is this sense of overwhelmingness,” said Vaile Wright, senior director of health care innovation at the American Psychological Association. “Overwhelmed to the point where you feel like you don't have the capacity to deal anymore. It's physical tiredness. It's mental tiredness. It's difficulty concentrating. It's all the things that we experience when we're just at our capacity.”