What Is Burnout Syndrome and How Can It Be Prevented?

We have probably all experienced or heard of “burnout syndrome” at some point.

This term was first mentioned in the book „Burnout: Visoka cijena visokog dostignuća” by Herbert Frojdenberg. Here it is also called „sindrom izgaranja” or „sindrom profesionalnog sagorijevanja”.

As we can conclude from the title of the book it comes from, this is a syndrome that is a response to chronic stress at work. So, it is a state of mental, emotional and physical exhaustion, caused by the stress an individual experiences in their professional life.

Burnout syndrome develops gradually. Symptoms are mild at first, but over time they become stronger and increasingly affect a person’s functioning in a negative way. That is why it is important to recognize them and prevent “burnout” from occurring.

There are three phases during which this syndrome develops:

1. Specific psychological and physiological reactions – tension, insomnia, anxiety, exhaustion, increased sweating.

2. Inadequate professional and personal behavior – avoiding going to work, arriving late or leaving work early, isolation, resorting to vices or excessive eating, postponing tasks and obligations, resentment.

3. Significant, obvious psychological changes – depression, avoiding contact, transferring frustration onto others, possible occasional suicidal thoughts.

Additional symptoms that may occur include discouragement, defeat, a sense of helplessness, uselessness and worthlessness, lack of energy, headaches, weakened immunity, muscle pain, changes in appetite.

The main cause of these symptoms and of burnout syndrome itself is stress. It is important to clearly distinguish between a person who is under stress and one who is facing burnout syndrome. When we are under stress, we see a way out of the current situation and believe we can regain control over events. When it comes to burnout syndrome, this is not the case.

Burnout is also contributed to by a lack of rest, work overload, and failure to recognize and reward an employee’s efforts. A lack of trust between employer and employee, unresolved conflicts in the workplace, and an inadequate pace and volume of work can also play a role.

When it comes to individual factors, research shows that people with a pronounced need for control are the most exposed to burnout syndrome. Also, people working in professions that involve communicating with people and caring for others, such as healthcare or social services, are most often susceptible to it. Of course, each person experiences and reacts to stress differently, and the development of the syndrome also depends on a person’s temperament and character.

It is important to know that burnout is something we can prevent. We can do this by making sure we have time to rest, adopting healthy eating habits, being physically active, sleeping regularly, properly setting priorities and boundaries, taking breaks from phones and computers, and engaging in activities that relax us. In addition, a rich emotional and social life, as well as valuing ourselves through other, non-professional achievements, plays a great role in preventing burnout.

If the disorder has already developed, it is a sign that we need changes. It is necessary to carefully examine our goals and priorities in life.

Might we be using work to escape other problems? What is it that we are missing for a better quality of life?

Also, we should recognize our needs and the ways to achieve a healthy balance between private and work life.

Activities that relax us, such as walking, painting, or listening to music, can help in overcoming burnout. Of course, if we notice symptoms or that burnout has already occurred, talking with a psychotherapist can help in successfully resolving this challenge.