Unmasking the Silent Symptoms of Burnout and How to Extinguish It

The idea of “burnout” is not a recent finding. In fact, it was first termed by American psychologist Herbert Freudenberger in the 1970s when he published an article titled “Staff BurnOut;” however, the idea behind burnout had already been identified prior to it being officially named.¹ ² For Freudenberger, he was devoted to his position as a psychologist and carried two jobs helping patients in New York. His personal experience with burnout, including not being able to get out of bed, inspired his article that, while not thoroughly researched with extensive surveys, led to further analysis of the symptoms. Since then, burnout has been a popular topic in business, mental health and well-being.

According to the American Psychology Association, burnout is described as “physical, emotional or mental exhaustion accompanied by decreased motivation, lowered performance and negative attitudes toward oneself and others. It results from performing at a high level until stress and tension, especially from extreme and prolonged physical or mental exertion or an overburdening workload, take their toll.”³ Burnout can be experienced during all points life and in varying degrees, whether it is at work, home or elsewhere. It may also be more common in certain industries than others. For example (and not surprisingly), healthcare workers are more vulnerable to burnout than other professions because of the high stress that is involved in the everyday tasks. While burnout may be experienced at different levels in different fields, it is a global concern and is now at an “all-time high,” according to a recent Gallup report.⁴

Here are several symptoms that may indicate burnout is on the horizon or already there:⁵

• Being cynical or critical of self or work.

• Difficulty getting up.

• Irritability or impatience with others.

• Lacking energy.

• Difficulty concentrating.

• Lacking satisfaction from achievements.

• Being disillusioned about job.

• Using food, drugs or alcohol to feel better or not feel.

• Difficulty sleeping.

• Experiencing unexplained headaches, stomach or bowel problems and other health concerns.

Burnout is often mistaken for exhaustion, which is temporary. It can also mirror symptoms of other medical conditions such as depression. A main difference, however, between the two is that burnout is often associated with a specific situation or scenario while depression does not always have a specific trigger.⁶ From a professional standpoint, burnout can result in a decrease in work performance and lack of collaboration, which can create further stress and frustration. Additionally, if burnout is not taken seriously, it can result in fatigue, insomnia, emotional distress, heart disease, high blood pressure and an increased vulnerability to other diseases.⁵

Luckily, there are ways to stop burnout in its tracks. According to the Mayo Clinic, burnout can take a toll on both your physical and mental health.⁵ Here is where to start if burnout begins to creep in:

• Find support by talking to someone, whether that be a supervisor, an individual outside of work or someone through an employee assistance program (EAP).

• Look for relaxing activities that allow for both physical and mental recovery.

• Get moving and exercise. Being outside has been proven to boost mental wellness.⁷

• Try to get more sleep.

• Give a go to mindfulness practices.

AON provides all employees with an employee assistance program (EAP) through ComPsych Guidance Resources. The program provides confidential 24/7 support, resources and information around a variety of focuses including work-life balance and emotional support. To access the EAP, visit guidanceresources.com and enter your employee ID.

References:

1. Information, N. C. for B., Pike, U. S. N. L. of M. 8600 R., MD, B., & Usa, 20894. (2017). Depression: What is burnout? In www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG). https:// www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279286/#:~:text=The%20term%20%E2%80%9Cburnout%E2%80%9D%20 was%20coined

2. Malesic, J. (2022, January 1). Burnout dominated 2021. Here’s the history of our burnout problem. Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2022/01/01/burnout-history-freudensberger-maslach/

3. American Psychological Association. (n.d.-a). APA Dictionary of Psychology. Dictionary.apa.org. https://dictionary. apa.org/burnout

4. Beheshti, N. (2022, June 22). New Gallup Workplace Report Says Employee Stress Is At An All-Time High. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/nazbeheshti/2022/06/22/new-gallup-workplace-report-says-employee-stress-is-at-anall-time-high/?sh=6cee21e2335c

5. Mayo Clinic Staff. (2021). Know the signs of job burnout. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/ adult-health/in-depth/burnout/art-20046642

6. Cleveland Clinic. (2022, February 1). Burnout: 5 Signs and What to Do About It. Cleveland Clinic. https://health. clevelandclinic.org/signs-of-burnout/

7. Information, N. C. for B., Pike, U. S. N. L. of M. 8600 R., MD, B., & Usa, 20894. (2017). Depression: What is burnout? In www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG). https://www.ncbi. nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279286/#:~:text=The%20term%20%E2%80%9Cburnout%E2%80%9D%20was%20coined