Shifting "Emotional Support Burnout": Six Tools to Empower Apprehensive Youth

​    It can be easy to become overwhelmed when continually trying to find the best support for your youth. The ever-growing list of attempted connections, diagnosis, medications, and professionals can leave youth, and guardians, feeling like they are running in circles or, perhaps worse, into walls. As a youth, I felt like finding the right support for myself was impossible and, after numerous attempts, I began to lose steam. I felt alone, misunderstood, and exhausted. I started calling the exhaustion I was experiencing, “Emotional Support Burnout” (ESB). ​

In my work with youth, I often see this same exhaustion and have come to recognize it as a common hurdle between youth and the professional supports they are needing. Despite how it feels, shifting the feeling of hopelessness and finding the perfect support is possible, it just may take new tools to bolster hope, resilience, and resourcefulness.

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