[As with] the proverbial frog in the kettle, stress levels can rise so gradua...

[As with] the proverbial frog in the kettle,
stress levels can rise so gradually that we
don’t notice them. As tension escalates
beyond a certain point, we experience
detrimental effects of too much pressure.
When high levels of stress become
normalized, we fail to notice the problem and
make changes. Under intense pressure, our
capacities are diminished, we make poor
decisions, and every facet of our lives is
affected. We feel generalized anger and
resentment, we experience physiological
symptoms like headaches and stomach
problems, our most valued relationships
suffer, and our effectiveness declines. At that
point, we can experience the devastation of
burnout. (cf. Dr. Richard Swenson, Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial and Time Reserves to Our Overloaded Lives, (NavPress, Colorado Springs, 2004). pp. 43-52

Meltdown. The experience has many labels
including “crash,” “crater,” “nervous
breakdown,” “clinical depression,” and
“burnout.” When excessive stress isn’t
relieved over a long period of time, people
almost inevitably experience a devastating
meltdown when they are forced to back away
from responsibilities for a time to recuperate.