Avoiding and Curing Sex - Worker Burnout
If you are a sex worker or are planning to become one remember:

1. You are the most important person and you must care for yourself and your body.

2. You will attract a better clientele, and ultimately make more money, if you are emotionally strong and clear.

3. Take breaks and vacations from your work as a matter of course.

4. Spend time in nature. Many sex businesses are housed in dark, closed environments, in busy neighbourhoods in high stress cities. Being in nature is a perfect balance. I have found being out in the forest to be my favourite medicine, but a city park will do. Get some sun, fresh air, hang out with trees, smell the flowers, and roll around in the grass, relax and watch the clouds drift by.

5. Spend some time alone, go inside yourself, stay quiet, do something very relaxing or meditative, even if it's just for a few minutes. Languorous, candle lit, aromatic bubble baths do wonders. Add mineral salts and herbal essential oils to your bath to help release toxins and relieve stress. Close your eyes, relax your mind, take some long, deep breaths and draw in life force energy to gain psychic strength. You'll need it.

6. Be in touch with your feelings and express them. Repressed emotions alone can create major burn out. I remember a few times when I had bouts of SWBO, bursting into tears with clients while they were fucking me, and raging at a few clients, or my bosses, when didn't really deserve it. Not good for business! When you are alone, have little cry's whenever possible (crygasms). Beat or scream into a pillow (angergasms). You will attract a better clientele, and ultimately make more money, if you are emotionally strong and clear.

7. Be aware of what colours you wear and live in during off hours. Because most of us make the most money wearing a particular colour (generally red, black or white) on your off hours try to wear other colours. Also, if you work in an environment that's a particular colour, try to have other colours at home. Almost everywhere I worked was red, gold and black, so I made my bedroom royal blue and emerald green with hot pink accents, and it had a great equalising effect.

8. Take good care of your body. Because our jobs involve our bodies, it's important to eat well, and take some extra minerals and vitamins. Exercise, and get body work. A good massage (massage school) can do wonders for a worn out whore or stripper. Again, it's best to have a session from a woman when possible, I know this is expensive, but if you can afford it at all, you're worth it. Less costly options are gardening, jogging, a yoga class, swimming, or simply long walks.

9. Get therapy. Time and again I've seen friends and colleagues who are burned out feel a lot better relatively quickly with one therapy session a week. Be sure you find a therapist who is sex positive and non-judgmental, or best of all, one who has been around the block herself. I strongly suggest a woman. If you're really financially strapped, call women's centres for free therapy. Many problems come from repeating unconscious negative patterns created from childhood experiences, learned beliefs about cultural norms, etc. Therapy puts you in the drivers seat, as opposed to doing things unconsciously. You can be sure that sex work will bring up lots of personal issues about money, sex, men, sexual orientation, etc. What's unresolved is what you'll continue to attract. Sex work can be a great teacher and healer, especially when coupled with therapy.

10. Have a good social net of peers with whom you can have sympathetic, loving, supportive communication. There is absolutely no better cure than this. Sharing your stories and feelings with people who've had similar experiences is absolutely magical. It is a tremendous help and source of strength for all of us, especially when stressed.

11. Do take an interest in your clients as much as possible, find out what motivates them and do courses and learn how better to manage them.

12. If at all possible, don't have any sex for a while. Get your mind (and body) off work. Indulge in your other interests and hobbies. Take a class or two. Go to a funny movie. Get a pet. Do something you've never done before. Go to a museum or carnival. Hang out with little kids or old folks. The possibilities are endless.

13. Be willing to make less money. Decide what kinds of people you want to work with, and be willing to let those that don't fit the bill go by. Develop your own style. Don't let the clients determine the service, but let them know what you offer. Practice saying NO. Clean out your little black book. Challenge yourself by periodically upgrading or expanding your business. You may in the short run seem to make less money, but taking care of your personal needs will give you longevity in the business and you'll surely come out ahead. (Escort-enz offers opportunities to focus and develop your business)

14. Create other sources of income. Look into other business or career opportunities, go to college or trade school, make an investment, start a sideline so that you won't feel financially trapped. Or when you need a break from sex work, you'll have an alternate job.

15. Admit that you are burnt out. Our egos, as well as incomes, are invested in feeling good about our work. Often we are scared to acknowledge burn out, especially to ourselves. Learn to recognise it, and see it as an opportunity to make positive changes in your life.

16. If your stress is chronic, get the hell out of the business. Perhaps you're simply not cut out for it, it's not fulfilling your needs, or it's time for a change. Sometimes getting out of sex work can be difficult. You may need to leave gradually, until you get your alternative sources of income in place. Or it might be best to go 'cold turkey' and make radical changes all at once. If there's a will, there's always a way. Good luck!

17. Do Not offer services you cannot deliver.

18. Massage School For Sex Workers

Much of the information on this page is courtesy of Annie Sprinkle.