Definition
Burnout is a state of severe mental, physical and emotional exhaustion that affects humans. It arises following months, or years of exposure to intensely-stressful situations. Three types of symptoms characterise this state:
- Extreme physical and mental exhaustion: Once an individual (finally) accepts he/she has to stop, he/she struggles to get out of bed or off the sofa for whole days or even weeks. The ability to reason has vanished. Making simple decisions seems impossible. There are memory lapses. Holding a conversation is hard. Writing, using a computer, driving a car plunges the person into panic. The level of distraction is such that near-miss accidents occur regularly. One day, the body gives up. Then a succession of health complaints unfolds, pre-diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia, cardiovascular problems, allergies, pain, insomnia, drinking to excess, infections, fractures, accidents, cancer and depression, dependency on anti-anxiety medications, alcohol or work (workaholism), family problems (troubled children, a failing marriage) and even suicide!
- Disappearance of empathy, and detachment: Loss of sense of humour, emotional detachment from relationships, behaviour becomes "out of control" characterised by outbursts and displays of anger. It affects interactions with customers and colleagues. With their back against the wall, the person is unable to take the step back required to put problems into perspective and to manage their interpersonal relationships. He/she becomes unrecognisable, cynical, fractious, short-tempered, tense, aggressive. Colleagues avoid contact, customers complain, and performance suffers.
- There is a loss of enthusiasm for work.
Personal responsibilities and staying in touch with one’s inner self
Among the personal factors that set off the implosion, we can cite "loosely": a tendency towards perfectionism (which is extreme) in relation to the requirement, excessive pride in performance, a lack of self-esteem, difficulty setting limits, an excessive desire to please, an abnormal level of internal anxiety, a particular type of rigidity, difficulty recognising and expressing one’s emotions, "rescuer-type" behaviours and, finally, due to a perceived sense of obligation (and sometimes social image) the act of accepting day after day to set aside and suppress personal values and contact with oneself, things that enrich the meaning we decide to give our lives. Professional burnout reflects a fracture between the person and their inner self.
Managerial responsibilities and "citizen management"
Medical research recognises that there is a link between managerial styles of an abusive, disrespectful, threatening, hostile and harassing nature that are void of signs of recognition; and an increased risk of the aforementioned illnesses among the staff for whom these managers are responsible.
What to do on an individual level
Burnout is a crisis point. However, patiently "waiting or hoping for it to pass" or taking a holiday, is like putting a sticking plaster on a wooden leg.
Leaving a job and quickly applying for another one elsewhere is - without exception - a pipe dream.
Because the relationship with yourself - "your inner self and your beliefs" - and the relationship with the world of work will not have changed.
Recognising the facts, accepting the idea of getting help, and taking a "critical" look at yourself and how you operate, are the first essential steps towards getting out of the victim role.
Taking the signs seriously, stopping, allowing silence and doubt to set in, catching your breath, looking after and being kind to yourself, taking stock and reconnecting with your enthusiasm will take weeks, or even months.
This will involve some "unpicking" and "re-building" in order to "reconnect" and "recreate" yourself. At this stage it is important to reassure the employee and explain to him/her that a suggestion to take some temporary leave is not an initial step towards dismissal.
Who to consult?
- The family doctor (GP)
- The psychologist
- The coach