How to Identify and Deal with Social Exhaustion

Social interactions can energise some people while leaving others feeling depleted or tired. People who experience tiredness after socialising are dealing with burnout or social exhaustion. Social exhaustion typically refers to feeling burnt out or overstimulated after spending time with others. This feeling can vary based on how extroverted or introverted someone is and can change at different life stages.

Signs of social burn-out

Social exhaustion can manifest in various ways. Some typical indicators include becoming easily annoyed or frustrated, irritability, physical fatigue, anxiety, meltdowns, difficulty focusing, and intentionally skipping social events. Someone with social burnout might feel psychologically drained, become overreactive, or have symptoms of depression. Continuing to engage with others or dismissing your feelings might result in feeling worse.

What can you do to reduce the risk of social exhaustion?

Social exhaustion happens gradually. Being mindful and aware of your mental health can help you detect early signs of burnout. Recognising the signs and symptoms allows you to make changes that prevent burnout.

1. Say no to activities or social interactions that typically result in feelings of stress, anxiety, or fatigue.
2. Create healthy boundaries to protect your mental and emotional health when interacting with others. It’s crucial to respect your boundaries by not compromising them out of fear or guilt.
3. Prioritise self-care and time alone.
4. Identifying your triggers can help you find various management methods. You can do this by examining how you feel after some social interactions.
5. Talk to your loved ones about your social exhaustion and be open to suggestions they might have on how you can handle it. Their support can help make things better.
6. Find a therapist to help guide you through self-care and boundary-setting goals.
7. Use positive affirmations to help reduce negative thoughts. Affirmations like, “I deserve a break,” “I’m allowed to rest,” or “It’s OK to say no” can help refresh your mind if you feel anxious or drained after socialising.

Interacting with other people means processing a lot of information quickly, which can become overwhelming. So, ensure you pace yourself, focus on how best to handle those situations, and use effective methods to reduce social exhaustion.

Please use our Find Yello listings to search for therapists, counsellors, or mental health specialists with the services to help you.

____________________

Sources: LinkedIn, Self, Choosing Therapy, Fortune and Psych Central