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Stress is omnipresent at work, and for many, it leads to serious mental health issues such as burnout syndrome.

In 2022, in the U.S., 50% of employees reported experiencing moderate to high levels of burnout. Women are affected more frequently than men.

But what does burnout mean and how do you recognize the warning signs?

What is Burnout?

Burnout syndrome is not an illness in the traditional sense. Rather, it is a state of complete physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that significantly reduces performance and can lead to mental or psychosomatic illnesses.

The Twelve Stages of Burnout

In 1974, the psychoanalyst Herbert J. Freudenberger described the typical course of burnout in twelve phases. However, not all affected individuals necessarily go through all the phases in the specified order, and the characteristics can vary in severity.

But let’s take a closer look at it.

1

Stage 1: The Need to Prove Oneself

Initially, those affected are often convinced that they cannot fullfill all the requirements of their job. At the same time, they want to complete the tasks perfectly.
2

Stage 2: Increased Commitment

This high demand on themselves then leads to the person thinking that they have to do everything on their own and as quickly as possible.
3

Stage 3: Neglecting Self-Care and Own Needs

To cope with the usually high workload, personal needs are pushed into the background. Instead of taking necessary breaks, they keep working. Frequently, people take medication, for example, to improve their sleep. Plus, first errors at work appear.
4

Stage 4: Repression of Conflicts and Needs

In addition to the initial psychosomatic health issues, conflicts can also arise, for example, with the partner. However, both are ignored. Mistakes at work increase, for example, deadlines are missed or tasks 'forgotten'.
5

Stage 5: Reevaluating Your Values

Those affected now put work above everything else. Family, friends or time for themselves are completely neglected and the person appears harsh and less empathetic towards others.
6

Stage 6: Denial of Emerging Problems

While the physical complaints expand, work performance decreases significantly. The individual becomes progressively more resentful and continues to distance themselves from others.
7

Stage 7: Withdrawal

This results in the person becoming dismissive, refusing to accept any criticism, and feeling disoriented. They only complete the most essential work tasks because they feel completely worn out.
8

Stage 8: Behavioral Changes

As this stage progresses, the individual becomes increasingly apathetic, reacting overly sensitively and interpreting everything as an attack. The job now feels like a burden.
9

Stage 9: Depersonalization

The individual no longer feels like themselves, and life seems pointless to them. They just function. Mental and physical complaints increase, e.g., gastrointestinal problems or a lack of personal hygiene.
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Stage 10: Inner Emptiness

In addition to feeling completely useless, affected someones also experience increasing anxiety and panic attacks.
11

Phase 11: Depression

The situation has worsened. The person is experiencing self-hatred and desperation, which may lead to suicidal thoughts.
12

Stage 12: Complete Exhaustion

This final stage is marked by a complete mental collapse. The mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion is now life-threatening, and the individual requires immediate external assistance.

This model illustrates how an individual can become increasingly trapped in a downward spiral from which they cannot escape. Providing a supportive social environment is crucial. Burnout is a serious condition that requires professional treatment and therapy.

Prevention and Help

Um Burnout vorzubeugen, ist es wichtig, die Warnsignale zu erkennen und frühzeitig zu handeln. Hier sind einige Ressourcen:

Free Counseling (Germany)
Telephone: 0800-111 0 111 (24/7 erreichbar) or Chat

If you suffer from stress and want to avoid burnout, a coaching program can help. Contact me for individual stress relief coaching.

Take Away

  • Burnout syndrome develops over a long period of time.

  • The process is characterized by different stages, each with distinct characteristics.

  • It’s important to identify the warning signs early and seek assistance.

Andrea Seekatz

I'm a trained & certified coach (ICF) and psychologist. Don't forget: Take Care of Your Self.

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CURA SUI
Take care of your self

Andrea Seekatz
MSc. Psychology, Coach

info@curasui.net

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