How refreshed do you feel after your holiday? Are you fresh and vital? Are you looking forward to new tasks and challenges?

If you feel that you are not really well rested even after a 2-week summer holiday, this could be a sign of exhaustion. Deep exhaustion has the character of an illness and is also called "burnout" in the new linguistic usage. This term fits very well with the feeling associated with it: being burnt out, unable to regenerate and being tired, listless and anxious throughout the day. From Maharishi Ayurveda's point of view, this is a symptom of ojas, the body's elixir of life, being depleted and the body being too weak to produce new ojas.

 

How can burnout be avoided?

What can you do yourself to avoid exhaustion or to get out of a burnout situation quickly and completely?

Signs of burnout

Burnout is an illness that does not develop overnight. Years of excessive demands, often in activities that do not really suit one, with a simultaneous lack of regeneration are the conditions that lead to this condition. The first signs can be rejection of one's job, one's life partner and one's social environment, because one cannot please anyone. One does not feel understood. This leads to an effort to do everything even better, which is associated with even greater effort. This constant effort leads to more and more restlessness, which can no longer be compensated by the usual regeneration. Most of the time, sleep disturbances are added to this. Depending on the character and the dominant dosha, the mood increasingly turns into anxiety (Vata), irritability (Pitta) or depression (Kapha).

 

Full picture of the disease

If it is not possible to break out of the downward spiral of effort, frustration, restlessness and exhaustion in time, a situation of hopelessness arises. Usually the day/night rhythm is disturbed, the smallest tasks and activities become an insurmountable burden, and the mood is at its lowest point. In addition, there are almost always medically inexplicable physical complaints such as heartache, back pain, abdominal pain or tightness in the throat and chest. Once such a situation has occurred, several months of sick leave and inpatient treatment in a burnout specialist ward are inevitable. In modern medicine, this condition is generously treated with antidepressant medication. However, these do not address the cause, but often only mask the symptoms. If they are used, the use of these drugs should only last until the regenerative and behavioural therapies have taken effect.

Holistic medical examination

In the vast majority of burnout patients, the findings obtained during a preventive medical check-up are completely normal, except for occasionally elevated inflammation parameters, blood lipids and liver values. In our holistic medical practice we also examine trace elements, vitamins and hormones. These extended laboratory tests often reveal serious deficiencies. The most important vital substances such as magnesium, B vitamins and regenerative hormones such as progesterone and serotonin are often completely depleted.

Ayurvedic diagnosis of burnout

Ayurvedic examination usually reveals the following signs of imbalance: one of the three doshas (Vata, Pitta and Kapha) dominates the pulse and thus the functions of physiology; the digestive fire Agni is weakened and there are massive signs of Ama (unprocessed food and sensory input); one or more of the 7 dhatus (body tissues) are poorly nourished; signs of Ojas (vitality) are greatly reduced.

Therapy

In the case of pronounced symptoms and complaints of burnout, an inpatient stay with distancing from everyday life and reorientation of life goals and behaviour patterns is highly recommended. However, there is always a waiting period of several months for such therapy places. During this time it is possible to make great progress in the healing process if measures are taken to improve the balance of Agni, Doshas and Dhatus and to supplement the missing vital substances. It is particularly important to restore the disturbed day/night rhythm and the ability to regenerate.

Measures from Ayurvedic medicine

Depending on the severity of the symptoms, either more regenerative or purifying procedures are used. Important medicinal plants in the therapy of exhaustion include: Ashwagandha (winter cherry), Brahmi (Bacopa Monnieri) and Shatavari (Indian asparagus); furthermore, preparations containing the stone tar "Shilajit", such as MA631. Classical preparations for the propagation of ojas are particularly important. These include above all Maharishi Amrit Kalash. In order to eliminate the accumulation of ama, purification procedures from Pancha Karma Therapy are essential. Depending on time and financial possibilities, these therapies can range from short cleansing cures at home (herbal detox) lasting several days to complete Pancha Karma cures in our house or in a Maharishi Ayurveda Clinic offering in-patient treatments.  

 

Relaxation has to be learned!

Burnout treatment can only be successful in the long term if the patient completely realigns his or her life rhythm and goals. The recommendations from Maharishi Ayurveda are unbeatable in their effect and practicability for the reorientation of daily and annual routines. In order to be able to integrate these recommendations meaningfully into everyday life, our webinars are particularly helpful. They combine mild Ayurvedic cleansing with behavioural therapy measures in an everyday situation. The webinar "Winterfit" specifically aims to build up ojas, and thus fresh life energy and good mood. As daily physical activity is important in burnout therapy, we recommend yoga and breathing exercises, which should definitely be learned under professional guidance.

Transcendental meditation as prevention and therapy

Burnout always arises as a result of permanent stress that can no longer be compensated by daily regeneration. Deep relaxation is the natural "antidote" against this kind of stress. In Maharishi Ayurveda, Transcendental Meditation (TM) is considered the basic technique for a relaxed life. With a time commitment of 15-20 minutes twice a day, the mind and body have ample opportunity for measurably deep relaxation. Transcendental Meditation is particularly suitable for everyday life and can be easily learned and practised by everyone.

Self-realisation instead of self-abandonment

TM is unbeatable in both prevention and therapy of burnout. This has also been shown in a new study that examined the effect of TM on burnout complaints among nurses. In this study, it was shown that the group of nurses who practised Transcendental Meditation twice a day in addition to standard burnout therapy, overcame their complaints of fatigue and exhaustion more quickly and showed signs of greater self-satisfaction and flexibility compared to groups with standard therapy. A major benefit that comes with practising Transcendental Meditation is improved self-awareness. In the deep relaxation that arises automatically during TM, one's needs and preferences are perceived much more clearly. The improved life energy that arises from regularly practising TM makes it easier to actively realise these needs. This eliminates a major cause of burnout: the neglect of one's own wishes and preferences in one's professional and private life.

Summary

Burnout is a hostage of our time: the frequency and severity of burnout illnesses are constantly increasing. Anyone who has once suffered from burnout is at grave risk of suffering repeated relapses of this persistent disease. Burnout can be completely cured through holistic approaches to diagnosis and therapy. Maharishi Ayurveda aims to lead every person to complete health. This is also possible for burnout patients. A variety of Ayurvedic therapy approaches guarantee that a fulfilled, happy life is possible for everyone. All applications of Maharishi Ayurveda can be easily integrated into everyday life.

The only important thing is to start. Preferably NOW!