BURNOUT (STRESS) IN THE PASTORSHIP

II Corinthians 7:5-7; Psalm 9:9-10, 18:1-2

Pastors are human too. And, like all people, pastors experience stress or burnout at certain points in their lives. It is believed that one in five pastors is physically and/or emotionally “burned out”. They haven’t stopped functioning altogether yet, but pastors who are burned out have lost the zest for ministry; they “go through the motions” day after day, but with little joy, and with greatly reduced capability for effective service. You cannot escape crises in the pastorship. But you do not have to be a victim. 

Much of the problem stems from the fact that most pastors are, by nature, idealists. You expect far too much of yourself, and of your congregation. Your congregation, in turn, makes very unrealistic demands on you.  Consequently, the pastorship at times can be torturous.

The congregation is the pastor’s toughest critics. The members look to their pastor as some kind of ideal parent, all-wise, all-knowing, a leader, problem-solver, tireless worker and a perfect example. No one can measure up to such standards. The problem with many pastors is that they try to be all that the congregation expects. And the crazy part is it would be so much simpler and more effective to help your congregation see you as a human being. Many pastors let themselves fall into a vicious cycle. They try to be perfect. Eventually they feel themselves slipping and become afraid. The congregation senses this fear.

It is a proven fact that fear feeds stress. We expend tremendous energy repressing our fear, shielding ourselves. What do you fear, rejection, disappointing people, being vulnerable, powerlessness? We fear confrontation, failure, being hurt, etc. It’s natural to worry about these things. But when we let them take over, this brings on stress. For a pastor, this stress can make it extremely difficult to deal effectively with any crisis, at home or with the church.

There are pastors so afraid of criticism, there are so afraid of not being needed, that they overwork themselves to keep busy. They’re even afraid to delegate any responsibility. They think they’ll lose their authority. They might even refuse vacation time because the church could discover it can get along without them.

Burnout, is the “disease of the over-committed,” comes as the result of chronic stress. Every Pastor has a different stress level; that is a point where stress becomes harmful. The secret is to recognize the signs of stress. Every pastor should find his stress level, and when you sense that you are close to it, back off and change pace. How can you tell when you’ve gotten “in over your level”? Here are some common signs:

1. Your body begins to reject new information. You don’t even hear a lot of what is said to you, and don’t remember much of what you hear. You’re overloaded.

2. Loss of options. Your mental horizon closes in; you have trouble seeing alternative courses of actions.

3. Insomnia. The chronic inability to sleep.

4. Inability to change harmful patterns. When you’re under stress from too many changes, it can seem too complicated to say “no” to additional demands. You find it easier to just heap on more commitments.

5. Fatigue. When you’re under excessive stress, your body craves more rest and sleep than usual. Give in and rest!

6. Depression. This is usually related to change, or loss of someone or something close without taking time to grieve over your lose. Stress can precipitate depression.

7. Physical illness. Stress upsets your whole glandular system, raises blood pressure, and keeps body systems in a fight/flight state of tension. This constant state of turmoil makes you vulnerable to everything from colds and muscular aches to ulcers, heart disease and strokes.

What is burnout? Burnout (stress) is a state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion marked by physical depletion and chronic fatigue, feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, and by development of a negative self-concept and negative attitudes towards work, life and other people. Some signs of Burnout are:

1. Decreased energy. “Keeping up to speed” becomes increasingly difficult.

2. Feelings of failure in your calling as a pastor.

3. Insomnia. The chronic inability to sleep.

4. Reduced sense of reward in return for pouring so much of yourself into the job or               project.

5. Sense of helplessness and the inability to see a way out of problems. 

6. Cynicism and negativism about yourself, others, work and the world in general.

THE FOUR STAGES THAT LEADS TO BURNOUT:

1. Enthusiasm

2. Stagnation

3. Frustration

A sense of being inadequate to accomplish what needs to be done, and doubts about whether or not it’s all worth the effort. This stage can be a turning point. It can either take you upward again to enthusiasm and new effectiveness or down into the fourth stage.

4. Apathy and chronic indifference that marks complete burnout.

COPING WITH STRESS

1. Learn To Plan

Too many projects going on simultaneously lead to confusion, forgetfulness and the nagging feeling of uncompleted tasks. Put your duties in priority order. Then take on just one or two projects at a time and work on them until completed.

2. Accept Your Limits

Pastor’s can never be perfect, understand this and accept it. Otherwise you will wind up feeling inadequate, no matter how well you perform. Set only achievable goals for yourself.

3. Facing Fears

Fears don't go away; they simply weigh on us. When you confront your fears, you’re on the way to casting off the burden. But admitting fear is hard for some pastors, simply because pastors are somehow supposed to be “above all that.”

4. Have Fun

It’s not a sin for you to have fun, everyone, including pastor’s need to escape job pressures and just relax and enjoy themselves. Laughter has tremendous healing power. Take time out for laughter!

5. Be Positive About People and Life

Try to avoid criticizing others. Praise them instead. Focus on their good traits. They’ll return the favor.

6. Practice Tolerance and Forgiveness

When we try to really understand the way someone else feels we can be more accepting of them. When we’re intolerant, we only feed our own frustration and anger.

7. Don’t Compete When You Don’t Have To

Life is full of unavoidable competitive situations. Don’t add to them.

8. Exercise: Even a daily walk is a big help.

9. Take Time for Yourself: Listen to music or take a nap. Go outside and look at nature.

10. Find a Person That You Can Open Up To

Expressing all those bottled-up tensions can be incredibly helpful.  The family is our primary support system. Talk to your wife, talk to a fellow minister that you have confidence in. A pastor needs a pastor, too, to provide strength and nurturing.

11. Find New Spiritual Disciplines:

Find a new way of praying, a new approach to scripture reading, daily meditation; personal retreats and days of silent contemplation.

You can rise from the ashes of stress, but, it takes time. First of all, you need to rest and relax. Don't take your work home with you. If you are like the majority of the pastor's, the work is never finished and later you will feel guilty for being lazy.

On having conquered your burnout (stress), be realistic in your aspirations and goals. Whoever the person might be that you are speaking to about your feelings can help you, but be careful. Your aspirations and goals of readjustment must be yours and not that persons. Trying to be and to do what someone else wants you to be is a sure formula for frustration and continual burnout.

One last word of advice, make a balance in your life. Invest more of your life with your family and other personal bonds, social activities and hobbies. Distribute your time and yourself so that your work does not have a strong influence in your self esteem and self-confidence.