The burnout syndrome represents the totality of cognitive and affective changes that cause the emergence of an exacerbated state of exhaustion, in the context of a chronic professional overload. The burnout syndrome favors the appearance of specific diseases of the cardiovascular system (hypertension, heart rhythm disorders), of the endocrine system, but also of the nervous system, increasing the risk of depression.
What are the symptoms of burnout syndrome?
What is burnout syndrome?
The human being was not “built” to function without rest. Daily personal and professional demands, time pressure and high expectations (own or from others), together with stressful situations, favor the occurrence of burnout syndrome.
Burnout syndrome is the result of chronic stress or improperly managed stress, is characterized by the onset of exhaustion and decreased performance. Among the solutions indicated in improving and/or eliminating this type of exhaustion are: focusing on the present activities, analyzing the commitments made, unavailability (in the sense of not responding to all invitations and projects), adopting and maintaining healthy habits both from the perspective of the regime food, as well as physical activity and hours of rest.
Learn everything about stress and how to manage it.
Why does burnout occur?
Burnout syndrome can be classified according to etiology as follows:
- Individual burnout refers to physical and mental exhaustion caused by neuroses and exacerbated own drive, up to perfectionism
- Interpersonal exhaustion appears against the background of difficult professional or family relationships
- Organizational burnout occurs in the presence of a lack of coordination of activities in relation to time and is more frequently encountered in a professional setting.
- Lack of effective communication at work, setting unrealistic deadlines, difficult work tasks, multitasking, not recognizing merits and working overtime are factors favoring burnout both at work and in the family
What are the symptoms of burnout syndrome?
The manifestations of burnout syndrome are not identical, each individual experiences physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion differently, as well as the behavioral changes that occur.
Signs of emotional exhaustion:
- The feeling of inner emptiness
- Depression
- The frustration
- Decreased tolerance
- Mood swings
- Lack of prospects
Signs of mental exhaustion:
- Pessimism
- Exacerbating conflicts with other people
- Distrust, suspicion
- Irresponsible and unsafe behavior
- Lack of self-confidence
Signs of physical exhaustion:
- Chronic fatigue
- Lack of appetite
- Frequent migraines
- Low immunity
- Insomnia
Changes in behavior:
- Delaying the start of a pregnancy
- Frequent delays at work
- impulsiveness
- Isolation from others
- Excessive consumption of alcohol, tobacco, prohibited substances
- Lack of enthusiasm
- Concentration problems
- Reluctance to work anymore
- Inability to organize time effectively
- Lack of motivation at work
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of burnout syndrome does not currently benefit from specialized investigation methods, but there are a series of self-assessment questionnaires that can distinguish between mental and physical exhaustion and the existence of other mental illnesses, such as depression, anxiety or chronic fatigue syndrome.
How do you know if you suffer from burnout syndrome? Try to answer the following questions:
- Do you tend to put off starting work tasks?
- Have you become more irritable and impatient in your relationship with others?
- Do you feel that you constantly lack the necessary energy to fulfill your professional tasks?
- Do you have difficulty concentrating?
- Do you lack the satisfaction of professional achievements?
- Do you feel disappointed about your job or your private life?
- Do you turn to food, alcohol and/or other substances to feel better or to get rid of the “not well” feeling?
- Have there been any changes in your sleeping habits?
- Do you face inexplicable headaches or stomach pains? Digestive disorders or other physical discomfort?
Treatment of burnout
The prevention and treatment of burnout syndrome are done using special employee assistance programs, stress management training and specific interventions that address the specific situations of each individual case.
The preventive measures used successfully in the case of burnout syndrome are represented by:
- Setting realistic limits and objectives, avoiding overwork at home and professional stress
- Prioritizing important activities
- Allocating enough time for rest and practicing relaxing activities regularly
- Adopting a healthy diet
- Engaging in a specific therapeutic process. Very important in the treatment of burnout syndrome is cognitive behavioral therapy that reduces the patients’ symptoms by changing the way of thinking and approaching situations in the presence of chronic stress factors
References:
- Burnout Syndrome/Sindrome de Burnout – https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA464897356&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=16794435&p=AONE&sw=w&userGroupName=anon%7E33d256dd
- Burnout syndrome among healthcare professionals – https://academic.oup.com/ajhp/article-abstract/75/3/147/5102013
- Burnout Syndrome: A Disease of Modern Societies?- https://academic.oup.com/occmed/article/50/7/512/1444456?login=true
