Burnout Syndrome, also known as Occupational Burnout, is particularly insidious.
It can be difficult to detect in its initial stages, with symptoms that, taken individually, can masquerade as normality. This is especially true following a job change or a prolonged period of over-demand.
In the best-case scenario, a professional will identify it when a patient seeks consultation for another reason.
A few years ago, an expatriate patient came to a consultation on the recommendation of their organization’s well-being officer. In the first consultation, they said, “I need help sleeping” and “I am suffering from anxiety.” We talked a bit about their experience moving countries for work and also about their current work situation. For several months, their direct supervisor had been absent due to a job change. Being a technical worker with an introverted tendency, they had to take on people management tasks and project direction for the first time, without abandoning their many usual responsibilities. Promises of hiring additional staff were not fulfilled, and the situation dragged on.
The situation could explain the nights of worry, but the symptoms we detected in the first visits went further. Physical and mental exhaustion. Sleep difficulties, including intense dreams related to work and work relationships. A drastic decrease in work motivation, which was already generalizing to their personal life in the form of apathy and procrastination. Sudden mood changes. Difficulty connecting with people, not only at work but also at home, even with their children.
In this case, the demands of the situation exceeded the capacities, which is when a stress crisis appears, and extended over time, one gets “burned out.” In their situation as an expatriate, natural protectors such as family and social support were missing, and adapting to a foreign culture did not make things easier.
Even so, in that case it was detected in time. At an early stage, and also thanks to the important work of a staff counselor responsible for employee well-being. In chronic cases, usually associated with rigid and demanding personalities, with resistance to asking for help, this syndrome often leads to debilitating depression.
This happened to another patient in a similar situation, an expatriate, away from his family, who also had several health problems, a loss of a loved one, and a position of great responsibility, but whose demanding personality prevented him from asking for help. When he finally came for a consultation, it was not for insomnia or stress but for deep depression with suicidal ideation.
Is Burnout What I’m Experiencing?
To detect the symptoms of Burnout, one can ask themselves a few questions:
- Do you find it hard to face work or feel unmotivated where you previously were not?
- Have you noticed more irritability or impatience with your colleagues, superiors, and clients?
- Do you have a more cynical or critical attitude at work?
- Do you struggle to maintain concentration?
- Do you notice a decrease in energy and productivity?
- Do you feel disillusioned with your job, and your achievements do not give you satisfaction?
- Do you have headaches or digestive discomfort?
- Have your sleep habits been affected?
- Do you turn to alcohol, drugs, or food to compensate or escape?
If you answered yes to some of the above questions, you might be suffering from Burnout.
There is no single cause for developing this syndrome, but with proper evaluation, it can be named and remedied.
What Can I Do?
There are protective factors, based on behavior, among which certain healthy routines stand out, such as maintaining structured schedules, regular physical exercise, a healthy and balanced diet, scheduling time to disconnect from work, or enhancing social relationships.
Sometimes, changing behavioral habits is not enough, and it is necessary to restructure a belief system that is favoring self-demand and self-criticism, towards one that improves well-being and, therefore, performance in critical situations.
In many cases, exploring personal values and changing external references of success for internal ones based on personal values improve personal resilience.
And it cannot be denied that there are corporate cultures or conflictive situations that are prolonged over time, testing the employee’s resilience. Not everything is acceptable. In these cases, it is advisable to reconsider our work situation and compare it against our priorities.
Regardless, the specialized accompaniment of an experienced psychology professional is especially useful in cases of occupational burnout.