Burnout syndrome was first described by Herbert J. Freudenberger in 1974 as 'the state of exhaustion that occurs as a result of tiredness, loss of energy and power, failure, and internally unfulfilled expectations'. The World Health Organization defines burnout syndrome as "chronic workplace stress that cannot be successfully managed".

Yeditepe University Hospitals Specialist Clinical Psychologist Özge Şengün, who said that the stressful work life causes chronic physical exhaustion, tiredness, despair, and hopelessness in the person with burnout syndrome, explained the most important symptoms of this problem, which has increased during the pandemic, those who are most threatened and the solutions. 

What are the Symptoms of Burnout Syndrome?

The main symptoms of burnout syndrome are divided into three: physical, psychological, and behavioral. People with these symptoms should pay attention and take precautions.

Physical symptoms: Physical symptoms include stomach pain, headache, lack of energy, sleep disturbance, weakness, constant fatigue, physical complaints, weight loss, and difficulty in breathing.

Psychological symptoms: Psychological symptoms of burnout syndrome include depressed mood, feelings of hopelessness, meaninglessness, impatience, anxiety, indecision, anger, and restlessness.

Behavioral symptoms: If the individual is reluctant to work, shows delaying behaviors, experiences conflicts with the people in his/her social and work environment, and therefore his/her relations with his/her environment deteriorate, he/she has behavioral symptoms of burnout syndrome.

Although burnout syndrome shows very similar symptoms to depression, it differs from depression in that it is caused only by work life. While depression can be related to any issue related to life, only work-life causes burnout.

Burnout syndrome has three dimensions including emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. The emotional exhaustion stage refers to the reduction in psychological and physical resources due to the stress experienced by the person, and there are fatigue and reluctance. In the depersonalization stage, it is seen that the person experiencing emotional exhaustion behaves indifferently and sometimes even rudely and aggressively toward the feelings of others. The reduced personal accomplishment stage indicates that the person may believe that he/she cannot meet the expectations in work and daily life and may have negative automatic thoughts about himself/herself. His/her anger towards his/her environment may turn towards himself/herself, and he/she may feel inadequacy and guilt.

Excessive workload on the person, working with an unsympathetic despotic boss or having problems with co-workers, injustice in the workplace, lack of motivating factors, lack of reward and low income, and working with time pressure at a very intense pace are among the causes of burnout syndrome. At the same time, clarification of the roles of the employees will prevent role conflicts and eliminate one of the stressors.

Who Experiences Burnout Syndrome?

Having a stress-prone personality can also lead to burnout syndrome. Disappointment is a risk factor for people with high standards if they do not fulfill their expectations. At the same time, we encounter burnout more often than other people in people who have feelings of inadequacy, perfectionism, obsessiveness and detail-oriented people who try to do everything perfectly, and people who have difficulty saying no with an altruistic nature. People who are exposed to high expectations from their superiors or who have to work face-to-face with other people (for example, in the service sector) may be more prone to burnout.

What Are the Solutions for Burnout Syndrome?

People who experience burnout tend to think in a meaning-oriented manner like “For what am I working so hard, for whom?” and start to question. It will not be a healthy behavior to make radical decisions, such as quitting work, in these critical times when exhaustion and fatigue are felt most deeply. They should try to make small changes before making important decisions that will change their lives. 

Regular exercise has many psychological benefits as well as physical benefits. Thanks to exercise, chemicals such as dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin released in our brains make us feel happier. That's why regular exercise plays an important role in overcoming burnout. People who experience burnout may also suffer from being available around the clock, and in this sense, they need to set boundaries between their work and private lives. They should also make sure that they are not taking on the work that someone else has to do because of role confusion, not being able to say no, or for any other reason. They can organize a to-do list and divide the tasks they need to do into small pieces. So, they can start with the easiest. Sometimes they need to remind themselves that they can make mistakes. They should take a break, when necessary, maybe take a vacation and allow themselves to rest. 

It is important to have realistic expectations, they should adjust their living standards and goals accordingly. They should pay attention to sleeping patterns and nutrition. For example, they can establish a routine before going to bed, determine a suitable sleep time, take care to drink enough fluids, and eat healthily. Particular attention should be paid to alcohol and caffeine consumption. They can find activities that they can enjoy outside of work life and acquire hobbies. They may benefit from methods such as relaxation and meditation. Sharing their troubles with their relatives and receiving support will also make them feel good. Adjusting their time management well and rewarding themselves for their success will also help them stay motivated and feel good.

When Should People with Burnout Syndrome Receive Support?

Relatives of people who experience burnout should also appreciate them while supporting them. They should avoid criticism, and be approving and tolerant. Feeling understood will be good for the person experiencing burnout. Making good use of free time, having a drink together, going for a walk, engaging in a social activity, and helping to lighten the workload are among the examples of the help that can be provided. Burnout syndrome is a condition that can be overcome by taking small precautions at the beginning, but it is important for the individual who experiences burnout to get professional support at the point where he or she cannot cope. Otherwise, results such as work accidents or job loss may occur due to a decrease in productivity at work. In addition to these, burnout syndrome can create consequences such as depression, anxiety disorder, psychosomatic disorders, increase in alcohol-substance or drug use, sexual reluctance, sleep disorders, and outbursts of anger if no precautions are taken.