Strategies to Prevent Burnout and Improve Work-Life Balance - Podcast | Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA

Audio File

ADAA sits down with ADAA Member Jenny Yip, PsyD, ABPP and Ashley Bramhall, MA to discuss what burnout means, strategies to practice self-care, and how to find balance in your life.

Can you define what burnout means?

Dr. Yip: Well, I think there are many different definitions of burnout depending on what context you're thinking of. For myself as a mother of two, five year old twins, and also a professional running the Renewed Freedom Center, and all the different professional hats that I wear, burnout isn't just about the work context, it is burnout in any area of my life, whether it's as a mother or as a professional.

Now, I do know that the ICD 10 or ICD 11 describes burnout as just in your work environment where you would be completely taxed of energy, you would be feeling irritable, perhaps pessimistic, you wouldn't be effective and productive at your work. So that's the ICD definition. Though I think most of us, especially in the last two years have experienced burnout no matter what contexts, we're describing it as.

Ms. Bramhall: And I think it's important to add to that that, like Dr. Yip said, it's not just in the work arena, but also that everybody experiences burnout differently. So what one person's burnout looks like is going to be different than another person's burnout and to be able to be open and compassionate and hear everybody out. Not just be like, "Well, I'm not burned out and I'm doing the same amount of work" or "My life is crazy and I'm not burned out. How is yours? You're doing nothing compared to me."

So I think that's also important thing to take a note when we talk about burnout overall.

Jenny Yip, PsyD, ABPP

Dr. Yip is a clinical psychologist, author, speaker, and a nationally recognized OCD, anxiety, and parenting expert. She developed the Family Systems Based Strategic CBT, and has treated severe OCD & anxiety disorders for almost two decades. She’s been featured in various media venues, and co-hosts the StressLess Life Podcast. In 2008, she found the Renewed Freedom Center – Los Angeles to provide the most advanced treatment for those suffering from OCD and anxiety disorders. In 2016, she established the Little Thinkers Center – Los Angeles to help children with academic challenges develop the necessary critical and creative thinking skills that build self-confidence and resiliency. Dr. Yip is Board Certified in Behavioral & Cognitive Psychology, is Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at USC Keck School of Medicine, and is on various professional boards and committees geared to improve mental wellness. She is the author of “Productive, Successful You: End Procrastination by Making Anxiety Work for You Rather Than Against You”.

Ashley Bramhall, MA

Ashley Bramhall earned her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University, and as an MFT Trainee, Ashley began her training and specialization in the treatment of anxiety & OC spectrum disorders at Renewed Freedom Foundation. She continued to build on this expertise with specializations in children, teens, and athletes as an AMFT at Renewed Freedom Center for Rapid Anxiety Relief. Ashley regularly speaks at national conferences and provides training and workshops to the community, colleagues, and other professionals to educate, build awareness, & decrease the stigma around anxiety & OCD.