25-year-old Béatrice Kabasinga was desperate to get a job, having been laid off when Covid-19 hit the country, however, she kept applying to many companies, positive that she would be called for an interview. In April 2021, she got a job in a marketing firm and was excited about starting work. However, her excitement was short-lived as the job was so demanding that she barely had time to rest. During the first two months, she gave it her all and even worked overtime, until she couldn’t push anymore.

She was under pressure, a thing that resulted in stress and lack of interest in the job. Work had become a burden, and so she decided to see a doctor. Based on how she felt, the doctor informed her that her brain was tired. She was advised to ask for some time off work to rest, and if that wasn’t possible, resign from the job. She decided to resign to take care of herself physically, mentally, and emotionally. 

Many people experience mental exhaustion and think it’s just tiredness or sheer stress. Do you ever feel unable to fulfil your daily duties and responsibilities, or experience laziness and detachment, a tendency to overthink, severe anxiety or a frequent overwhelming sense? Do you sometimes have an inclination to procrastinate, find it difficult to stay focused or have problems with memory, are irritable or angry? Chances are, you’re mentally exhausted.

According to experts, mental exhaustion is a result of prolonged stress. This stress is elicited due to many reasons such as work overload, job dissatisfaction, pregnancy, the grief of losing a loved one, financial problems, and long-term illness.

Dr Janvier Yubahwe, a psychiatrist and psychotherapist at Kigali Psycho-Medical Center, says that mental health exhaustion, also known as burnout, is considered brain fatigue. It happens when the brain receives too much stimulation or has to maintain an intense level of activity without rest.

He says that this is a result of chronic stress. The literature on male-female differences in mental exhaustion (burnout) failed to produce consistent results regarding this relationship. It was, however, found to increase with age. Mental exhaustion has three dimensions which are; emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and reduced personal accomplishment.

"You can tell that you’re mentally exhausted if physically you experience chronic tiredness; aches and pains in joints, muscles, stomach or back; sleep disturbance; weight loss or gain, and decreased interest in sex,” Dr Yubahwe says.

He also says that when it comes to behaviour, it’s obvious you’re mentally burned out if you withdraw and isolate yourself from friends and colleagues, reject help, lack effectiveness, have a paranoid reaction, are overly suspicious of others, don’t turn up to work, and have reduced responsibility and professionalism.

Dr Yuhabwe says that emotionally, you will notice rigid thinking and lack of problem-solving ability, resentfulness, negative mind-set and irritability, you might cry or get angry easily and inappropriately, experience forgetfulness, excessive worry, doubt, and an inner sense of emptiness.

He points out that treatment or a coping strategy can be altering or removing stressors by taking action to manage your environment when possible, or by removing yourself from stress-inducing situations.

Alternatively, he recommends reducing individual vulnerability and building resistance by reworking your attitudes and beliefs; and lessening the impact of stress reaction by learning and using calming techniques and stress releasers such as relaxation exercises, massage, among others.

He says that you should always consider consulting a mental health professional when the coping strategies above seem to not be fruitful.

According to Healthline, nearly everyone experiences stress from time to time — it’s the body’s natural reaction to new, overwhelming, or scary situations. This biological response results in a surge of hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol, that help you respond to perceived threats and high-pressure situations that require quick thinking. When you have dealt with or removed the stressor, your body’s hormones should go back to typical levels. But chronic or long-term stress can play a role in mental exhaustion.

"Regular physical activity can have a positive impact on your mood, energy levels, and brain function, not to mention overall physical well-being. You don’t need to engage in a complex or high-intensity activity to reap the benefits, either. If you’re able to, moderate exercise, like a brisk half-hour walk, can still make a difference in your mood and help you feel calmer and more relaxed.”