Sally sat down heavily, taking her shoes off and yawning as she pulled her feet beneath her on the couch. She sighed deeply and rested her chin in her hand. “I don’t know why I’m so tired, but I just feel exhausted.”
The imaginary client above is a composite of many people working in film and television in BC who have come in describing a bone weariness that is both physical and mental. Fatigue is on the rise this summer. Maybe that’s not surprising, given longer daylight hours, increased social activity, production and auditions schedules. Sometimes a solid 8 hours of sleep helps, but often there’s more to it.
Here are 5 reasons you may be on the way to burnout—some of them may surprise you:
1. Minority Stress
For actors, crew, and other workers in the industry, navigating everyday workplace stress can be compounded by discrimination, stereotyping, or bias. The additional drain on mental and emotional energy required to push through these situations can leave you feeling tapped out. Performers may experience additional stress from trying to conform to racial, gender, or ethnic stereotypes to access opportunities. The interplay of work that often fosters rapid relationships can create the illusion that the set is a casual environment rather than a workplace. This can make it a vulnerable space for those in marginalized groups who may then experience more open biased assumptions, such as about intelligence, and microaggressions such as jokes based on stereotypes. These are just a few examples of how typecasting, biased assumptions, and microaggressions can create an additional burden on the nervous system. Resilience factors include having effective coping strategies, maintaining strong connections with peers or supportive communities, and fostering pride in your identity.
2. Lack of Enough Deep Sleep
According to the Sleep Foundation, aiming for 7–9 hours per night is important, but it’s equally important to consider the cycles of sleep. To allow the body and mind to fully rest and repair, we need 4–6 complete cycles that include deep, delta-wave sleep and REM sleep.
Deep sleep is essential for bodily recovery, immune system function, and nervous system balance. It quiets the amygdala—the brain’s threat detection center—and strengthens the “cable” to the prefrontal cortex—the brain’s wise, calm navigation center. Maintaining a regular bedtime that allows for those sleep cycles to progress is essential for restorative nervous system recovery. Long, variable hours on set can interfere with circadian rhythms and the ability to enter deep sleep cycles.
3. Being in the “Caretaker” Role
In the film and TV world, some people, either by nature or necessity, take on the caretaker role in their personal and professional lives. Whether it’s being the one caring for family members, the peacemaker, the one everyone vents to, or the one managing last-minute production crises, working weekends, or staying up late to help a friend work on a script.
Caring for others can be rewarding, but it becomes harmful when it’s difficult to separate your needs from the needs of others. Ask yourself:
Do I feel totally responsible for someone else’s well-being or performance in work or life?
Do I feel resentful of the time spent on others, or guilty when I focus on my own needs?
When personal life and sense of self are lost, even a strong desire to care for others can lead to exhaustion affecting both mental and physical health.
A survey conducted by Set Protect of 250 non-union film workers in 2022 found that 77% reported negative impacts on their mental health. These statistics underscore other concerns faced by those working in the industry.
4. Anticipatory Stress
Working in the film and television industry can be incredibly meaningful and exciting. However, the nature of the field often means living in a state of heightened nervous system activation—always alert for opportunities while never knowing when the next booking will come. The potential for chronic stress increases when there is insecurity about financial stability and future planning.
5. Social Evaluative Threat
When we feel that our performance—behind or in front of the camera—is constantly judged, it can activate the amygdala—the threat detection center in the brain—triggering the release of stress hormones. Those working in the entertainment industry may be especially vulnerable to social-evaluative threat, constantly “auditioning” for work. As human beings, we have a fundamental need for acceptance from our fellow human tribe members. That is part of the reason public speaking is still feared by about 75% of the population. It can feel as if we are baring our most intimate selves in front of a pack of wild animals. When presented with the possibility that some aspect of our social selves may be rejected or evaluated negatively, particularly after several auditions, let’s say, in which the casting director sat stony-faced while you’ve given an Academy Award-worthy performance, it can wear on the nervous system. Without effective coping strategies, such as the ability to reframe, self-compassion practices, and supportive relationships, the long-term effects can include nervous system dysregulation, characterized by hypo-arousal, increased fatigue, and emotional disassociation. For actors, this can make accessing a deeper breadth of feeling more difficult.
Those working in the film and television industry give so much to our cultural and social landscape, creating content that is a vital part of Canadian life. There are benefits unique to the industry, with many clients describing feeling fulfilled and stimulated by their work. For some, working in the industry is the culmination of a lifelong dream. However, just as there are benefits to every career field, there are also stressors unique to this industry. Even if you don’t think you’re doing much, there may be more to your work than you realize.
Stay tuned for Part Two, “From Set to Self-Care”.