Burnout: how to detect it and take action

The Burnout syndrome (burned, melted) is a type of work stress, a state of physical, emotional or mental exhaustion that has consequences on self-esteem, and is characterized by a gradual process, by which people lose interest in their tasks, the sense of responsibility and can even reach deep depressions.

• Related article: "Psychology of work and organizations: a profession with a future"

What is Burnout Syndrome?

Burnout syndrome, sometimes translated as "Burnout Syndrome", is a psychological alteration linked to the work context and which may constitute a disorder due to its damaging effects on the quality of life. As we will see, it has characteristics typical of mood disorders (such as depression) and anxiety disorders.

Although it does not currently appear in the main psychopathology diagnostic manuals, there is more and more evidence about the characteristics of this phenomenon, which can be used to know the profile of this alteration as a psychopathology separate from depression and other disorders.

This syndrome was described for the first time in 1969 when verifying the strange behavior they presented some police officers of that time: officers of the authority who showed a picture of symptoms concrete.

In 1974 Freudenberger made the syndrome more popular, and later, in 1986, the American psychologists C. Maslach and S. Jackson defined it as "a syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and less personal fulfillment that occurs in those individuals who work in contact with clients and users."

How is this psychological alteration manifested?

The syndrome would be the extreme response to chronic stress originated in the work context and would have repercussions of an individual nature, but it would also affect organizational and social aspects. Researchers have been interested in this phenomenon since the 1980s, but it is not until the late 1990s that there is some consensus on its causes and consequences.

One of the general explanatory models is that of Gil-Monte and Peiró (1997), but others such as those of Manassero et al (2003), Ramos (1999), Matteson and Ivansevich (1997), Peiró et al (1994) or Leiter (1988), were born to respond to the strategies and techniques of necessary intervention to prevent and minimize the effects of a problem that has been increasing especially since the beginning of the crisis (Gili, McKee. and Stuckler. 2013). In addition, it has been hypothesized about the possibility that Burnout Syndrome could be one of the causes of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Cultural differences in Burnout Syndrome

Even so, and counting on the advances developed by research in specific fields, there are still different interpretations about the type of intervention most appropriate when correcting it: either of an individual nature, accentuating psychological action, or of a social or organizational nature, affecting working conditions (Gil-Monte, 2009). Possibly, these discrepancies have their origin in the cultural influence.

The studies by Maslach, Schaufeli and Leiter (2001) found that there are certain qualitative differences in the American and European profile, since the latter show lower levels of exhaustion and cynicism. Regardless of the continent in which you live, there are certain aspects that you must know in order to act in time and be able to prevent or correct it. In this article you will find some clues about this phenomenon. What you learn can help you deal with the problem and take action before it affects your health.

People at risk of suffering it

You may be more likely to experience burnout if you meet several of the following characteristics (in the form of signs or symptoms):

• You identify so strongly with work that you lack a reasonable balance between your work life and your personal life.

• He tries to be everything to everyone, assuming tasks and functions that do not correspond to his position.

• He works in jobs related to work activities that link the worker and his services directly with clients. This does not mean that you cannot present yourself in other types of work, but in general doctors, nurses, consultants, social workers, Teachers, door-to-door salespeople, pollsters, collection officers, and many other trades and professions are at increased risk of developing the condition.

• You feel like you have little or no control over your work.

• His work is especially monotonous and he has no frights.

Can I be experiencing burnout at work?

Ask yourself the following questions to find out if you are in danger of Burnout:

• Have you become cynical or critical at work?

• Do you crawl to work and often have trouble getting started once you arrive?

• Have you become irritable or impatient with coworkers or clients?

• Lacking the energy to be consistently productive?

• Do you lack satisfaction in your achievements?

• Are you disappointed in your work?

• Are you using too much food, drugs, or alcohol to feel better?

• Have your appetite or sleeping habits changed because of your job?

• Are you worried about unexplained headaches, backaches, or other physical problems?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be experiencing Burnout. Be sure to check with your doctor or a mental health professional, however, some of these Symptoms can also indicate certain health conditions, such as a thyroid disorder or depression.

Main symptoms

• Emotional exhaustion: a professional burnout that leads the person to psychological and physiological exhaustion. There is a loss of energy, fatigue at a physical and mental level. Emotional exhaustion occurs when having to perform work functions daily and permanently with people who must be cared for as work objects.

• Depersonalization: it manifests itself in negative attitudes in relation to users / clients, there is an increase in irritability, and loss of motivation. Due to the hardening of relationships, it can lead to dehumanization in treatment.

• Lack of personal fulfillment: decrease in personal self-esteem, frustration of expectations and manifestations of stress at a physiological, cognitive and behavioral level.

Causes

The exhaustion of the present work on Burnout Syndrome may be the result of several factors and it can occur normally when there are conditions both at the level of the person (referring to their tolerance to stress and frustration, etc.) and organizational (deficiencies in the definition of the position, work environment, leadership style of superiors, among others).

The most common causes are as follows.

1. Lack of control

An inability to influence decisions that affect your job: such as your schedule, assignments, or workload that could lead to job burnout.

2. Unclear job expectations

If you are not sure about the degree of authority you have or your supervisor or others expect of you, it is unlikely that you are comfortable at work.

3. Dysfunctional work dynamics

Perhaps you work with a difficult person in the office, feel belittled by colleagues, or your boss doesn't pay enough attention to your work.

4. Differences in values

If values ​​differ from the way your employer conducts business or handles complaints, the mismatch can take its toll.

5. Bad job fit

If your job doesn't match your interests and abilities, it can become increasingly stressful over time.

6. The extremes of activity

When a job is always monotonous or chaotic, you need constant energy to stay focused, which can contribute to higher levels of fatigue and burnout from work.

7. Lack of social support

If you feel isolated at work and in your personal life, you may feel more stressed.

8. Imbalance between work, family and social life

If your job takes up a lot of your time and effort and you don't have enough time to spend with your family and friends, you can burn out quickly.

Psychological and health effects

Ignoring or not treating burnout can have significant consequences, including:

• Excessive stress
• Fatigue
• Insomnia
• A negative overflow in personal relationships or home life
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Alcohol or substance abuse
• Cardiovascular impairment
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes, especially in women
• Cerebral stroke
• Obesity
• Vulnerability to disease
• Ulcers
• Weightloss
• Muscle pains
• Migraines
• Gastrointestinal disorders
• Allergies
• Asthma
• Problems with menstrual cycles

Remember, if you think you may be experiencing burnout, don't ignore your symptoms. Consult with your physician or a mental health professional to identify or rule out underlying health conditions.

Therapy, treatment and advice

If you are concerned about burnout at work, you need to take action. To start:

• Manage stressors that contribute to job burnout. Once you've identified what is fueling your burnout symptoms, you can make a plan to resolve the issues.

• Evaluate your options. Discuss specific concerns with your supervisor. Maybe you can work together to change expectations or come up with compromises or solutions.

• Adjust your attitude. If you've become cynical at work, consider ways to improve your outlook. Rediscover the pleasant aspects of your position. Establish positive relationships with peers to achieve better results. Take short breaks throughout the day. Spend time outside of the office and do the things you love.

• Seek support. Whether it's reaching out to coworkers, friends, loved ones, or others, support and collaboration can help you deal with job stress and feelings of burnout. If you have access to an employee assistance program, take advantage of the services available.

• Assess your interests, skills, and passions. An honest evaluation can help you decide whether to consider an alternative job, such as one that is less demanding or better suited to your interests or core values.

• Get some exercise. Regular physical activity such as walking or biking, can help you better cope with stress. It can also help you unwind outside of work and focus on something else.

In summary, it is advisable to keep an open mind while considering the options, and if you think you are suffering from this syndrome, try to fix it as soon as possible.

It is also important not to make the problem more serious by confusing Burnout Syndrome with a disease: neither is it, nor do its triggers have to be found in the body of oneself to be clear about this, it is good to read this article: "The differences between syndrome, disorder and disease".

Bibliographic references:

• Bianchi, R.; Schonfeld, I.S.; Laurent, E. (2015). Burnout-depression overlap: A review. Clinical Psychology Review, 36: pp. 28 - 41.
• Kristensen, T.S.; Borritz, M.; Villadsen, E.; Christensen, K.B. (2005). The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory: A new tool for the assessment of burnout. Work & Stress. 19 (3): 192–207.
• Martín, Ramos Campos and Contador Castillo (2006) “Resilience and the Burnout-Engagement model in formal caregivers of the elderly”, Psicothema, 18 (4), pp. 791-796.
• Maslach and Leiter (1997) The truth about burnout. San Francisco, CA: Jossey Bass.
• Maslach, Schaufeli and Leiter (2001) Job Burnout. Annual Review of Psychology, 52, 397,422.
• Matteson and Ivancevich (1987) Controlling Work Stress: Effective resource and Management Strategies. San Francisco, CA: Jossey- Bass.
• Oosterholt, BG.; Maes, J.H.R.; Van der Linden, D.; Verbraak, M.J.P.M.; Kompier, M.A.J. (2015). Burnout and cortisol: Evidence for a lower cortisol awakening response in both clinical and non-clinical burnout. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 78 (5): pp. 445 - 451.