Avoiding Breakdowns and Burnouts

by Julian M. Kelly

You build your life's work on becoming, understanding, andportraying other people. You may be rejected a ratio of twelve times to every job you get (if you're lucky), you deal with the possibility of unemployment on a regular basis, and constant rejection. Often, in the jobs that you do get, there is high incidence of stress, substance abuse, work-related injury, and unresolved mental illness.

...So how do you keep it together amidst all this chaos?

I have known far too many actors, whom, by their mid twenties were worn out, knotted from having been mentally mobbed by their own ambitions, and on the verge of self-destruction. Young and prematurely damaged, much of their charisma had disappeared. Now, they are worn, tired remnants of dreams forgotten. Many of these unfortunate souls are only steps away from totally abandoning their creative devices. They have been drained of their vitality. Some burn out for only a season, while others lose their drive to perform for the rest of their lives.

At first glance, those employed by Corporate America may appear to have one-up on the self-directed and self-employed business of managing your acting career. However, there are many resources available to actors as well. For instance, The Actor's Fund of America has a variety of services and programs created specifically to serve entertainment professionals. Some of the services provided by The Actor's Fund of America include a health insurance resource center, an HIV/AIDS initiative, Senior Services, and many others.
Both The Actors Equity Association and the Screen Actors Guild have a variety of services in place to better serve its members.

In order to avoid burn-out and breakdowns, I have compiled a list of some helpful suggestions:

1. Know your profession,  you will face ups and downs. Be prepared for this both mentally and emotionally. NEVER invest yourself in a specific audition, job or company. Keep your options open.

2. Stay Professional, run your career as you would any other business, with business hours, and lots of organization to keep things easy on yourself. If you become overwhelmed, it is often helpful to seek managers and agents to help relieve some of the stress of negotiations and finding work.

3. Pace yourself,  It is easy to burn out if you are on the go constantly. Reward yourself regularly with activities you enjoy. Remember that there is life beyond work.

4. Set attainable goals, setting short term and long term goals is helpful in clarifying your expectations. I would recommend setting goals that do not require other people to fulfill. For instance "take 4 acting classes this month, attend the gym 4 hours each week, audition for at least 3 musicals." Having goals like "I will get 2 acting jobs this month" can lead to stress. You can't force a casting director to hire you. You can however force yourself to maintain a positive outlook, regardless of what happens.

5. Realize "It's not personal", don't take rejection to heart...if you find yourself taking it personally, find ways to re-evaluate. You are who you are, not how many jobs you get. Don't let others define you.

6.Self-monitor, If you don't feel just quite right, if you are constantly tired and irritable, or you find yourself experiencing mental or emotional distress, get help from a professional before it spirals out of control.

7. Remove Yourself from "The Craziness", the easiest way to do this (going back to keeping it professional) is to avoid engaging in all offstage drama. Gossip, rivalries, and even romance with co-workers can create all kinds of misery in your life. Keep your work life and your private life separate.

8. Rediscover the Joy in Acting, remind yourself of why you got yourself into this business in the first place! Simply taking time out to feel passionate about your work can give you an invigorating boost.