Burnout as a result of permanent stress

As a result of too long continuous stress, burnout can be the consequence. What exactly are the triggers for burnout and what can you do about it for yourself?

Burnout itself is a gradual process. Often over several months and in phases.

If you should look at a phase model on burnout. Phases may be skipped, or other symptoms may be added to each phase.

The most common causes of burnout are mobbing, pressure to perform, and multiple stresses at work and in everyday life.

Burnout – What is it exactly?

Burnout is the result of prolonged states of stress. The body cannot properly relieve the stress, burnout follows. The body can super handle short stress response. A certain level of stress is even reached in order to be top performing. For example, competitive athletes also need a certain amount of stress.

When stressed, your organism is challenged. Breathing becomes faster, pulse increases, muscles become more tense, activity in the intestines is shut down. There are a lot of things happening in our body.

If you have enough breaks, this activation of the body will flatten out and it can recover. If you are constantly stressed over too long a period of time, the body cannot rest. Your nervous system is overstimulated and the first symptoms appear, such as muscle tension, headaches or stomach problems.

If the nervous system is permanently overstimulated, complaints can also become chronic.

Burnout can also be described as a reaction to the persistent internal and external stresses that your body can no longer withstand.

Symptoms can be physical, mental or emotional.

In recent years, individual psychological stress has risen sharply. Due to the strong life and work changes in recent years, it has become more difficult for many people to maintain a health balance.

Sick leave due to mental health problems has risen sharply in recent years. Often, sick leave due to psychological ailments is often greater than due to physical ailments.

What is the difference between burnout and depression?

Depression can be a result of burnout. Depression can have many different causes.

Burnout and depression are characterized by sleep disturbances, low energy, listlessness, envious mood and stressed behavior.

Depression is a clinically recognized diagnosis, with a clear description.

Burnout is understood as a condition. It describes a state of physical and mental exhaustion.

Often, exhausted individuals are accompanied by other signs, such as cardiovascular problems, anxiety and compulsion.

There are warning signs of burnout.

Burnout can occur over several months to years. The stages are continuous and can vary, as already mentioned. It is a process of physical, mental and emotional expenditure.

In the initial phase, those affected often still feel strongly motivated and are full of drive.

Therefore, they charge themselves too much. The warning signals vary greatly.

Nausea, mild dizziness, sleep disturbances, heartburn, muscle/headaches due to tension poor posture. Mild cardiac arrhythmias or recurring ear noises may also be indications of overwork.

Stress is also reflected in behavior. For example, there are people who start running instead of walking. Because running is faster and thus saves time. Then the breaks are omitted at work. First we eat at the place, then there is no break at all. Often consequences overtime and social contacts are gradually reduced.

To maintain or increase performance will increase amounts of caffeine. Handled. To relax, alcohol consumption often increases.

Burnout makes itself felt on different levels. For example, there may be increased feelings of anxiety. Confidence in one’s own abilities gradually decreases. Activities that are exciting or perceived as enjoyable are becoming less attractive and less important. In addition, there is often a perceived helplessness in terms of influence on the environment.

In behavior, errors occur more frequently at work. Activities require more and more energy and time to be carried out. Often the affected person also withdraws more and more.

The own drive decreases more and more, the exhaustion on the other hand increases. Fatigue increases, motivation and energy decrease.

Feelings of meaninglessness and lack of perspective also increase. Often there is also agonizing constant brooding, while imagination and creativity continue to decline.

Sexual dysfunction, sleep disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, diseases of the cardiovascular system may also occur. The list of symptoms does not claim to be complete.

Conclusion: Can burnout be traced back to a single trigger?

Broadly speaking, triggers can be divided into external and internal factors.

When it comes to internal triggers, there are factors that promote burnout.

This includes, for example, low self-esteem combined with high performance expectations of oneself. Often these affected individuals are perceived as perfectionists in their environment.

External triggers usually include a difficult work situation, e.g. a high workload, constant time pressure or a lack of appreciation by managers.

In many cases, burnout is an accumulation of the various factors. These can include several areas of life. Ex. an illness of a close family member represents an additional burden.

Coaching on burnout is always preventive! It should help to reactivate resources, to better deal with stress and thus to avoid burnout.

If burnout has occurred, therapy is advisable. This is not where a coach can help.

However, it is possible to involve a coach in the therapy – always after consultation with the therapist!

Therapy requires time and patience. In general, the regeneration chanchen are very good in a burnout. The duration of therapy depends on the severity of the burnout.