Burnout Syndrome Can Affect Anyone
There is a well-established idea that the burnout syndrome is prevalent mainly among helping professions - doctors, nurses, social workers, psychologists or teachers.
Professions requiring daily contact with people are more prone to the burnout, nevertheless, it can still affect virtually everyone.
A person doing mental work can end up burned out, as well as someone who experiences a beating routine. Quite often, the burnout syndrome also occurs among people caring for young children or sick family members.
Risk Factors
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mentally and time consuming profession
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workaholism
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inability to separate work from personal life
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unpleasant working environment (unfulfillable demands, bad relationships, bullying ...)
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neglected mental hygiene
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generally poor stress tolerance
Stealthy Hardship
Burnout usually comes inconspicuously, so we usually do not react in time, especially if it is our first time experiencing it.
In addition, the problems are accompanied by some stereotypical prejudices - we do not want to admit mental problems, we are afraid someone will label us as lazy or insufficiently capable.
Thus, we try to overcome the increasing problems by force which mostly just make them worse.
If the burnout is accompanied by complications with physical health, most people will first get a round of pointless examinations bearing no results whatsoever. Only after excluding all possible health problems will it often become clear the culprit behind the unpleasant condition is actually our psyche.
Symptoms of Burnout Syndrome
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aversion to work; feeling that what I'm doing doesn't make sense; feelings of undervaluation
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fatigue - physical and mental
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problems with concentration
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loss of interest in everything
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aggressive, angry reactions
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headaches, back pain, indigestion, sleep problems
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tendency to deal with mental discomfort overusing alcohol, medicaments or drugs
How to Fight Burnout
Fortunately, burnout and other mental health problems and illnesses are being talked about more and more openly, and it is far from being as taboo as it used to be.
If we observe the first symptoms of the burnout syndrome, we can try to manage it on our own. If it does not work, or we are already at a more advanced stage, it is advisable to seek psychological help.
Several Tips for Mental Well-Being
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therapeutic sessions
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plenty of sport and physical activities
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dedicated time for yourself, your family and hobbies
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break, vacation
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meditation
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healthy lifestyle, enough sleep
Burnout Syndrome and Covid-19
In addition to the primary disease, the coronavirus pandemic brought with it a number of other problems, including mental ones. We find ourselves in a situation where we cannot spend time with our colleagues, and apart from working at home office, we also have to take care of elderly family members, teaching children and much more.
We might be afraid of losing our job or in the context of the crisis we find our work meaningless. Moreover, after a year with the epidemic, it also seems never-ending.
It is no coincidence that during this period many people began to experience mental problems. It can be a burnout syndrome, which is not only caused by work, but also, for example, home schooling, but of course there are also depressions, anxieties and other problems.
Studies show that more people than usual experienced psychological problems during the pandemic.
Mental health is fragile and we have to take care of it, so if something is wrong, let's not hesitate to seek help.
FAQ
Who can get burnout?
Virtually anyone. People in professions with daily contact with people, such as doctors, nurses or teachers, are more prone to it, but it also affects those doing mental work or caring for young children or sick family members.
What are the symptoms of burnout?
Aversion to work, physical and mental fatigue, problems with concentration, loss of interest in everything, aggressive reactions, and headaches, back pain, indigestion or sleep problems.
What are the risk factors for burnout?
A mentally and time consuming profession, workaholism, inability to separate work from personal life, an unpleasant working environment, neglected mental hygiene and generally poor stress tolerance.
How do you fight burnout?
If you notice the first symptoms, you can try to manage it on your own. If that doesn't work or you're at a more advanced stage, it is advisable to seek psychological help. Sport, breaks, meditation and enough sleep also help.
Together Against Burnout
The management of many companies has already understood that burnout is not a problem of individual employees, but of the whole company. Far-sighted bosses thus have organized programs and events for their co-workers to help them to relax and maintain good mental condition and efficiency.
After all, a well humored and enthusiastic person is a reinforcement of every team.
