Beating Burnout, Finding Balance

CHAPTER 3ON STRESS AND RESILIENCE

Stress is a very broad topic. We know we need a certain amount of stress to drive us and motivate us towards our goals, but how much is too much? What is the fight-or-flight response and how can it help or hinder us? In this chapter I will share a story about fight-or-flight and discuss the mechanisms behind a stress response. I will also look at the evolution from stress to burnout and ways to manage and prevent this.

Virunga National Parc, Rwanda

Suddenly the jungle foliage in front of me started shaking violently. I heard a thunderous primal groan and out of nowhere, a massive 600-kilogram silverback gorilla came charging straight towards me! At this moment I learned the true meaning of the fight-or-flight response. Not the textbook meaning that I learned in high-school biology or the work–stress version we are all familiar with, but the true primitive meaning of the terms ‘fight’, ‘flight’ and ‘freeze’!

In less than a microsecond I felt my whole body being fuelled by adrenaline. I felt my skin chill, my muscles get ready to run, my stomach contract and my eyes on full alert ready to take action. Should I fight, flee or freeze? I froze! I was paralysed by shock and fear and my whole body stood tensely.

I took a breath and let out a big sigh. Once I was over the initial shock, I remembered what François, our mountain guide, had said to us in the briefing before we set out in search of the elusive mountain gorillas of Rwanda. He said if ...