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long hours, for too long, under too much pressure.  

When the fuse blows and the lights go out it is too late and only a period of rest and recuperation with therapeutic help will help us get back on our feet again.  

It is important to recognise that stress or burnout can effect all of us in the working environment.  It is not the private domain of the highly successful Directors of multi-nationals.  All of us who are conscientious workers, demanding of self with high expectations of self and others and a perfectionist streak are susceptible to burn out. Recognising it is another matter.  When you are used to managing others it is highly likely you will struggle to manage yourself.

There are many symptoms of burnout.  Some are easier to identify, others are more hidden.  In order to identify the symptoms it is often vital that you listen to others and not ignore what you may hear as criticism. It is also essential you listen to yourself – listen to what your body and your head are telling you. Don’t ignore it. Your performance may decline as you become more tired (you work longer hours to achieve the same output); you become more irritable in the workplace or at home; your sleep becomes disrupted; your enjoyment of life outside of work decreases and relationships start to suffer.  Tiredness leads to exhaustion and with it physical health problems (high blood pressure, headaches, ulcers, heart attacks) and maybe mental health problems (clinical depression).

There is an unfortunate tendency to start to self-medicate at any stage along the road to burnout.  Alcohol is often the ‘medication’ chosen by most but in today’s world other drugs such as cocaine are taking an ever increasing role in helping us to cope.  Both alcohol and cocaine are highly addictive and although we may start by having a couple of drinks to help us unwind or to get to sleep, or a line of coke to help us unwind, the addictive nature of these drugs is such that you need more and more of the substance to achieve the same effect.  Before you know where you are addiction has set in and your job performance suffers even more.  This rapidly increasing downward spiral has an inevitable consequence: You lose your job, your business or your family or all three.

Stress and Burnout need to be taken seriously.  Don’t put if off.  Burnout is not a sign of weakness. Recognising it is a sign of strength.  Doing something about it is a sign of taking responsibility.

Our residential therapy programme is designed to help you recover from the effects of burn out, address
the issues of ‘self medication’ with alcohol or drugs and to give you the tools and strategies in order
to be able to cope with stressful situations in the future.

I came to you a broken women.  I had missed the telltale signs, the insomnia, and the drink to unwind. Then the bad decisions, the memories lapses and the constant arguments with my partner. I ignored advise to see a Doctor or take time off sick.  I could cope.  Finally I realised I couldn’t go on like this.  I had set my alarm for 3am for the third time that week but sleep evaded me.  When the alarm went off I showered, looked in the mirror and what looked back at me was alien to me.  

I was advised to get myself over to Nova Vida in Portugal by the Civil Aviation Authority.  I was diagnosed as having Burn Out and I abused alcohol as a way to cope.  Within a week I was feeling much better and within a fortnight I had already learnt new coping strategies to deal with the stressful situations that I had to face in my day-to-day life.  I learnt to be more assertive with management and my team and I learnt to bring balance to my life.  I have sorted out some life issues that have been plaguing me for years, put to rest some childhood resentments and now enjoy Tai Chi (Miguel was such a wonderful instructor) and the gym.  I remain in
constant contact with my therapist in Portugal and know I can call her at any time if I have a difficult day.  All
in all it was the best investment I have ever made (as well as my flying lessons).

Sarah, UK, 2010

We live in stressful times.  If we are not careful we start to use alcohol or even drugs excessively in order to cope.  There is the danger of a breakdown or burnout.  But what is burnout?

We all have stress in our lives.  It is part of everyday life. It helps drive us forward, keeps us on our toes and helps us meet our aims/objectives in life.  It is when we allow it to become too much that the problems start. Burn out is the result of physical and mental exhaustion brought on by working too