Burnout among Teachers of the Gifted and Gifted Adults

Abstract

This article surveys some of the common causes of “burnout” such as: lack of rewards, irrelevant duties, unsatisfactory work conditions, lack of confirmation of worth and isolation. The writer also comments on the problems of lack of tangible feedback in many professions which provide service to others such as special educators and clergy who frequently deal with constant stress in others. Often a radical change in lifestyle compounds existing problems. In particular the paper discusses the “paralysed perfectionism” of highly able adults and children who initially were dedicated to reaching high level goals. The writer suggests keeping a daily Strategies Diary in which personal rewards and stresses are recorded and analysed with the purpose of reaching greater self-understanding.