Emotional burnout syndrome is a consequence. Burnout syndrome - we treat it together. The concept of burnout syndrome

Emotions

27.10.2016

Snezhana Ivanova

The term “emotional burnout” appeared at the end of the last century, but has acquired particular relevance at the present time. Many people find themselves in an unenviable situation where they are forced to work “to their limits.”

The term " emotional burnout“appeared at the end of the last century, but has acquired particular relevance at the present time. Many people find themselves in an unenviable situation where they are forced to work “to their limits.” Moreover, the activity itself does not bring them the expected moral satisfaction. American psychologist Herbert Freudenberg confirmed the negative consequences of the development of burnout syndrome. Burnout is dangerous not in itself, but because of its accompanying characteristics: fatigue, indifference, apathy, reluctance to act and make responsible decisions.

Office workers and workers in helping professions suffer most from the syndrome: psychologists, doctors, consultants. They are forced to give a huge amount of their own energy to strangers every day, but do not always receive a worthy reward for this. Sellers also suffer from emotional burnout: endless interaction with visitors gradually begins to depress them. Burnout syndrome is especially pronounced when a person is weakened physically and emotionally. If there is endless stress at work, the risk of developing a nervous breakdown increases.

Symptoms of emotional burnout

Emotional burnout has its own symptoms, from which we can conclude that there is a serious problem. While these symptoms are absent or they are not particularly pronounced, as a rule, a person does not think about the need for change. So, what are the most obvious symptoms of burnout?

Suppression of emotions

The first thing that catches your eye when communicating with a person who has burnout syndrome is emotional suppression. He ceases to respond adequately to significant stimuli. The sense of humor disappears somewhere, interest in what is happening around is lost. There is a desire to hide in your shell and not come out for a long time. Such self-absorption gives rise to some inhibition, depression and detachment. Suppression of emotions leads to the fact that important feelings are hushed up; a person cannot express them fully, risking being misunderstood and ridiculed.

Accumulation of irritability

As the syndrome develops, irritability accumulates. This symptom is simply impossible not to notice. As a result, a pessimistic view of the world and current events is formed. A person loses the ability to think positively and make any rosy forecasts. He even ceases to understand what is of great value to him and what should be abandoned. Burnout undermines a person's will. This is why people are in no hurry to quit a job they hate, which brings them nothing but extreme suffering. A strong feeling of weakness suppresses any attempts to influence one’s own condition, so the situation may not change for a long time.

Feelings of guilt and failure

Burnout syndrome makes a person constantly feel his own inadequacy. The person begins to delve into himself, engage in reflection, it seems to him that everything is going badly, and he himself is not capable of anything more. A person’s feeling of criticism towards him increases, and additional complaints appear. Burnout devastates a person from the inside. In part, those around us also contribute to such strong dissatisfaction: constant conflicts give rise to doubts about one’s own strengths and capabilities. Self-confidence is undermined, a person gives up. Feelings of guilt and failure are prominent symptoms of burnout.

Causes of emotional burnout

Burnout syndrome, unfortunately, is familiar to many first-hand. A person's sleep is disturbed, appetite disappears, anxiety and depression increase. Emotional burnout has its own causes, and if they are eliminated in time, you can get rid of the problem.

Long-term work "for wear and tear"

Nowadays, many people work 12-14 hours a day. Such a schedule does not bother anyone, but it cannot but have a negative impact on a person’s health and general well-being. With this approach to work, burnout syndrome manifests itself very quickly. The reason is the suppression of basic physiological and spiritual needs. After just two or three months of vigorous activity, sleep is disturbed, optimism and faith in one’s own prospects disappear. Burnout is manifested by noticeable fatigue, severe nervous tension, motor activity is impaired, constantly makes you sleepy, and in the morning you don’t want to go to work. As a result, labor productivity and awareness of one’s own competence are impaired. A person ceases to understand his value, does not realize why and who needs him.

Least favorite thing

Another reason is being tired of work. When we are minding our own business, we need to put in twice as much effort to ensure that the task at hand is completed successfully. Burnout syndrome is especially pronounced when a person literally forces himself to go to work and carry out some monotonous actions there every day. An unloved activity depresses a person more than failure in one’s own enterprise, which is why burnout occurs faster. As a rule, an unloved activity is highly stressful. A person has to overcome disgust, constantly tune himself in the right way, which in itself leads to exhaustion of the nervous system.

Stress and conflicts

Constant nervous tension sooner or later leads to burnout. The reason is the depletion of the emotional resources of the individual. Emotional exhaustion occurs due to prolonged stress. They undermine self-confidence and destroy personality from the inside. Over time, a person begins to feel that there is nothing significant left in his soul. Conflicts with the environment contribute to a person becoming tired, feeling apathetic, and not wanting to do anything. Burnout syndrome suppresses personal development and completely devastates a person.

Stages of emotional burnout

The emotional burnout syndrome develops gradually, over time increasingly subjugating a person, leaving him no way to search for alternatives. The personality really burns out from the inside, ceases to be aware of itself, and ceases to fully enjoy life. First of all, the emotional sphere suffers: relationships with others, the perception of oneself in society are disrupted. Below are the stages of burnout development. If you notice them in time, you can help a person cope with the problem, and not take it to the extreme.

Fatigue

This is the first sign by which the emerging syndrome can be diagnosed. A person begins to feel that his internal resources are severely lacking to carry out successful activities. He begins to complain to others about the excessive workload, not realizing that he just needs to give himself the opportunity to rest a little. As a rule, a good daily routine can solve the problem, even if the work schedule remains tight.

At the second stage, a person can also help himself if he acts thoughtfully and consistently. It should be remembered that emotional burnout syndrome can be corrected only when we do not ignore it and do not turn a blind eye to the disturbing problem. This stage is characterized by severe emotional exhaustion. What does it mean? A person ceases to control his feelings and often breaks into screaming and swearing. Salespeople in huge supermarkets suddenly begin to be rude, doctors in clinics begin to make sarcastic remarks to patients. Emotional burnout shows a person that he has no resources left to maintain cheerfulness and excellent well-being. This syndrome indicates that a person does not use his internal strength correctly, does not know how to rest, and therefore his reserve reserves do not have time to recover. It should be remembered that burnout is always the result of an overly strict attitude towards oneself and unrealistic demands.

Severe burnout

In the case when significant signs of burnout are stubbornly ignored, the third stage begins. The syndrome in this case is characterized by increased anxiety. A person completely loses the ability to adequately perceive current events. Everywhere and everywhere he sees a threat, he imagines betrayal and deception. Workers in helping professions become ineffective, they lose the desire and ability to work fully. Burnout syndrome at the third stage is a danger both for the person himself and for others. A person can become uncontrollable, aggressive, and constantly break into screams and accusations.

How to deal with burnout

Emotional burnout definitely needs correction. If a person does not pay close attention to his own mental and physical health, he will very soon overwork himself and stop responding adequately to any stimuli. How to deal with burnout syndrome? Let's take a closer look.

Complete rest

This is the first thing you should do if you want to completely get rid of the symptoms of burnout. Nothing can replace healthy sleep and a pleasant pastime. If a person is constantly thinking about work, he depletes his life resources much earlier. Burnout indicates that you are fixated on one thing and are not allowing favorable changes into your life. It is necessary to understand that we have a limited supply of energy and it needs to be replenished on time. A good rest includes not only sleep, but also freedom of thoughts and a positive mood.

Situation analysis

If burnout does occur, you need to try to reconsider the situation and find resources in it to achieve a result that would suit you personally. The reason should always be sought within yourself. Think about how you feel about life? Do you often get dissatisfied, indignant, blame your loved ones, neighbors, or the government? There is no point in wasting your energy and endlessly complaining about injustice. Reconsider your own attitude towards life, find the “hole” through which your time, resources, and health are leaking.

Physical activity

It is not without reason that they say that in a healthy body there is a healthy mind. Physical activity can really help you get rid of burnout syndrome. If daily mountain climbing or vigorous cycling seems out of your reach, don't despair. You need to start small. Sometimes it is quite enough to do simple exercises in the morning to feel better. Move more, communicate with people, learn something new. You shouldn't sit in one place.

Having a favorite thing to do

Have you noticed that those who have a constant hobby live an easier and calmer life? That's right: a hobby helps to maintain a positive attitude and restore peace of mind. Having something you love incredibly inspires you to pursue many aspirations. A person suddenly begins to realize that he has been wasting his energy in the wrong place for many years, and now he has the opportunity to correct it. Emotional exhaustion syndrome will gradually disappear if you begin to invest in yourself and fill yourself with wonderful thoughts. Usually, with the advent of a hobby comes inspiration, a boundless desire to act, supported by an unchanging belief in success.

Thus, burnout is a topic that deserves close attention. This condition can be fought, but it requires the person to take full responsibility for the result.

Emotional burnout is a negative phenomenon of a mental nature, leading to emotional exhaustion of the human body.

Professionals whose professional activities involve communication are susceptible to emotional burnout: helping, reassuring, giving people “spiritual” warmth.

The “risk group” includes: teachers, doctors, psychologists, managers, social workers. Specialists are constantly faced with negative emotions and are imperceptibly involved in some of them, leading to psychological “overload.”

Emotional burnout occurs slowly from: working too hard, increased activity, work enthusiasm. A symptom of body overload appears, turning into chronic stress, and depletion of human resources occurs.

Burnout syndrome

This is the exhaustion of the human condition: moral, mental, physical.

Let's sort it out signs of this condition:

1. moral: evasion of responsibility, obligations; desire for loneliness; manifestation of envy and anger; blaming others and loved ones for your troubles.

People try to improve their condition with alcohol or drugs.

2. mental: lack of self-confidence; indifferent state: in the family, at work, to events; disgusting mood; loss of professionalism; hot temper; dissatisfaction, lack of life goals; anxiety and restlessness; irritability.

Emotional burnout syndrome is very similar to depression. Subjects feel signs of being doomed to loneliness, so they suffer and worry. While doing work, they cannot concentrate for long.

3. physical: frequent headaches; “loss of strength” - fatigue; increased sweating; muscle weakness; decreased immunity; darkening of the eyes; dizziness; insomnia; pain in the lower back, heart; joints “ache”, digestive tract disorders; shortness of breath: nausea.

A person cannot understand what is happening to him: his immunity is reduced, he feels disgusting, his appetite is impaired. Some people experience an increase in appetite and, accordingly, weight, while others lose their appetite and lose weight.

Emotional burnout is

The response of the subject’s entire body to prolonged stress from any sphere of communication: home, work, environment, regular conflicts.

Altruistic professions are more susceptible to burnout.

People providing professional services (assistance) lose their emotional and physical energy, become dissatisfied with themselves and their work, and cease to understand and sympathize. To overcome emotional burnout, consultation with a psychotherapist and treatment is required.

Herbert Freudenberg, a psychologist from the United States, described in 1974 the phenomenon of emotional burnout - this is a mental disorder that affects the personality of the subject due to emotional “exhaustion.”

Causes of burnout include:

Low wages, with a busy work schedule;
Not meeting life's needs;
Uninteresting, monotonous work;
Manager pressure;
Responsible work, no additional control;
Inappropriate assessment of the specialist’s work by the manager;
Work in a pressured, chaotic environment;

Methods to combat burnout to restore balance:

Monitoring the signs and preconditions of burnout;
Timely elimination of stress, search for support;
Constant control over emotional and physical health.

Burnout syndrome is

A state of systematic exhaustion of a person, paralyzing feelings, strength, as well as loss of a joyful attitude towards life.

It has been proven that people from a social profession experience burnout syndrome earlier than people from other professions. In personal, unfavorable relationships in the subjects' lives, symptoms of emotional burnout occur.

There are several stages of burnout:

1. Lung

Tired of pleasant caring for children; elderly parents; took exams at school, university; performed chord work.

For a while they forgot about sleep, lack of basic services, felt uncomfortable, increased tension and irritation.

But all the work was completed on time, the situation returned to normal. The time has come to relax: take care of yourself, exercise, get a good night's sleep - the symptoms of emotional burnout have disappeared without a trace.

Hence, energetic, high-quality charging received by a person, after a prolonged load, restores energy, replenishing spent reserves.

Undoubtedly, the human psyche and body are capable of much: working for a long time, achieving a certain goal (to go to the sea); withstand difficulties (paying a mortgage).

2. Chronic

Symptoms of burnout occur with certain problems:

not enough money: buy a washing machine;
presence of fear: tense state, vigilance regarding superiors, afraid of big demands.

Such symptoms lead to overload of the nervous system. In the human body, painful sensations arise in the muscles, all over the place, and turns into chronic burnout. One of the symptoms of overexertion is teeth grinding at night.

The smooth transition from delight to indifference is called dehumanization. Attitudes towards people have changed from gentle, respectful, devoted to negative, rejecting, cynical.

At work, I feel guilty before my colleagues; I perform my work like a robot according to a template. A defensive reaction begins to take effect: retire at home, hide from all problems.

Burnout syndrome is the impact of constant stress, loss of interest in professional activities and motivation. Negative changes in your body are complemented by regular illnesses: colds, flu.

Burnout at work

After high work activity and heavy workload for a long time, a period of fatigue sets in: exhaustion, exhaustion. The employee’s percentage of activity decreases: he does not do his job conscientiously, rests a lot of time, especially on Monday, and does not want to go to work.

The class teacher does not notice the excited state of the class.
The nurse forgets to dispense the medicine on time.
The head of the company sends the employee “through the chain of command.”

Such phenomena, emotional burnouts, occur regularly. The same words sound in a person’s head: “I’m tired,” “I can’t do it anymore,” “no variety.”

This means that emotional burnout at work has occurred, emotional energy has been reduced to a minimum.

The teacher does not introduce new teaching technologies.
The doctor is not engaged in research activities.
The head of the company does not strive to advance his career to a higher degree.

If work activity is reduced and not restored, then professional growth and creativity remain at the achieved level. Therefore, you should forget about promotion.

Dissatisfaction in life and work leads to a lesser extent depression, and to a greater extent - to aggression.
In depression period the subject blames himself for personal and professional failures: “I’m a bad father,” “Nothing works out for me.” Aggressive reaction - blames others - loved ones, bosses.

In the initial stage of emotional burnout, psychosomatic symptoms appear: dissatisfaction, anxiety, which reduce the overall resistance of the body. Blood pressure and other somatic diseases increase. Irritation is present in family, friendships, and at work.

Indifference to interests, hobbies, art, nature becomes an everyday occurrence. The stage of emotional burnout begins, turning into a chronic disease process that requires the help of a specialist - a psychotherapist.

What to do in case of emotional burnout:

1. with mild

Reduce the load;
Delegate things;
Share responsibility;
Realize realistic goals;
Accept surprises without pain;
Do not overestimate human capabilities and requirements.

And also:

Change mental stress to physical (play sports, work in the country);
See a doctor for sick leave or relax in a sanatorium.

If the symptoms of emotional burnout are not recoverable, it means that the transition to chronic burnout has occurred.

2. for chronic

In a state of prolonged stress, the disease intensifies the process of burnout. Remorse over one’s actions continues to increase burnout, and one is unable to replenish one’s health with energy.

Medicines prescribed by a doctor may help for a short time, but will not solve the problem of the disease.

Restoring the internal deficit of joy, reducing social pressure will radically change your attitude towards life and protect you from unexpected actions.

The main task is your physical health. Ask yourself questions: “What is the meaning of my activity, its value? " “Does my work bring me joy, with what enthusiasm do I do it? "

Indeed, joy and satisfaction should be present in your affairs.

If you realize that the symptoms of emotional burnout are preventing you from living a fruitful and dignified life, then it’s time to make an effort—to work on yourself.

And then the question: “What is emotional burnout?” You will forget forever.

Learn to say the word “no”

Example: “I will not do someone else’s work. It’s not included in my job description.” Reliability in work is good, but integrity is better.

Replenish yourself with positive charges

Example: Meeting with friends in nature, excursion to a museum, swimming in the pool. Proper balanced nutrition: dietary, including vitamins, minerals, plant fiber.

Discussion and search for constructive solutions with a friend will provide help and support in difficult times; emotional burnout will stop.

Improve relationships within your workforce

Example: Invite your colleagues to your birthday at home or have a feast at work, in a cafe.

Observe more people who are not susceptible to burnout.

Take an example from them, treat failures with humor, don’t get hung up on them, have a positive attitude towards work.

Take on a new direction by being creative

Learn to play the guitar, learn new songs, master the skills of a gardener. Reward yourself for work that brings you joy.

Take breaks during your work shift

Talk about topics not related to work: about children, family, art, cinema, love.

Change profession, team

Perhaps your old profession does not bring you satisfaction, you are experiencing burnout at work, or maybe not your team, your manager - you do not feel emotional stability.

Write down the reasons for “burnout” on a piece of paper.

Solve problems gradually, highlighting priorities.

Sometimes a person receives emotional nourishment from a job he loves. They do not have the need to look “outside” for positive emotions; they are protected from emotional burnout.

Psychologists say that a favorable team climate prevents emotional burnout among employees. Conflicts in teams, on the contrary, contribute to increased burnout at work.

Emotional burnout is mental exhaustion of the subject’s body, which can be restored with the help of the work team, friends and work on oneself.

Burnout syndrome is a special condition of a person in which he regularly feels depressed and tired. The patient is exhausted morally and physically, does not want to engage in any work, and is unable to perform his professional duties efficiently. For such a person, the working day seems like real torture, and even favorite activities cease to bring joy.

As a rule, people with the syndrome do not immediately understand what is happening to them. At first, the disease resembles seasonal blues. Patients become suspicious, hot-tempered and touchy. They give up at any slightest defeat. Ultimately, the disease can lead to emotional breakdown and severe depression. General health also worsens: insomnia, anxiety, causeless feelings of guilt and irritability appear.

The pathology can affect anyone, but most often it occurs in workers whose professions involve daily interaction with other people. These include doctors, teachers, psychologists, and consultants.

Burnout syndrome develops due to the fact that helping others begins to exceed one’s own needs and interests. This is also facilitated by increased activity in the workplace, regular overwork, conflicts with colleagues and superiors.

Pathogenesis

Many scientists believe that the syndrome appears due to problems that have recently arisen in professional activities. Regular conflicts, negativity from other people and their inappropriate behavior can undermine even the most stable psyche.

Statistics show that the disease mainly affects those whose professions involve daily contact with other people, namely:

Teachers and educators;
Medical workers, social service employees;
Bank and service sector employees, operators.

Scientists have identified several stages of increasing emotional stress, which are associated with the professions of patients:

A person is completely satisfied with his work, but minor conflicts and stress gradually begin to darken his life.
The first signs of pathology appear: irritability, chronic fatigue, insomnia, loss of appetite.
It becomes difficult for the patient to concentrate on his direct responsibilities, as well as to perform them efficiently. He stops having time to do everything that was planned, so he often stays at his workplace until the night.
Lack of sleep and fatigue significantly harm your health. The patient's immunity decreases, which leads to the development of various diseases and exacerbations of chronic diseases. At the same time, people with burnout syndrome cease to be satisfied with themselves and the colleagues around them.
Apathy, irritability and short temper, mood swings and exacerbation of many pathologies are the main signs of stage 5 of the syndrome. The condition requires immediate help from a specialist, as the risk of developing deep depression rapidly increases.

Causes of pathology

Mental burnout syndrome in most cases develops precisely because of regular stressful situations in the workplace. But there are other factors that influence the emotional state of the patient:

Intense rhythm of life;
The so-called “Groundhog Day”;
Regular criticism from your boss or colleagues;
Insufficient incentives for work;
Feeling of uselessness.

The risk of pathology increases in people with the following character traits:

Maximalists who always try to do their job perfectly;
Overly responsible and obligatory;
Dreamers whose self-esteem is often inadequate.

The syndrome often worries patients who suffer from alcohol or drug addiction, as well as people who smoke. With such bad habits they try to get rid of stress, thereby increasing their performance. But in fact, such methods of solving problems in professional activities only harm a person. His body is depleted, new diseases appear.

The disease does not always occur only in working citizens. The disease can even affect a housewife, especially if her work goes unnoticed and unappreciated. People caring for a sick relative experience similar feelings. Over time, a whole lump of hopelessness and injustice accumulates inside them.

People of creative professions are also susceptible to pathology: artists, writers and actors. Often the syndrome arises as a result of one’s own insecurity, especially if one’s talent is not recognized.

Essence and types of syndrome

Pathology usually occurs as a result of accumulated negative emotions that are associated with a person’s profession. The main reason for the development of the syndrome is the need to help other people. As a result, for example, doctors, psychologists and teachers simply do not have enough time to take care of themselves. They perceive every negative event and failure in the life of their ward as their own defeats. Ultimately, frequent stressful situations lead to the appearance of the disorder.

The pathology is considered dangerous because over time it causes real depression in the patient. A person feels like an outcast, he cannot realize himself due to enormous self-doubt, he loses his job and people close to him, and all prospects for the future completely disappear. As a result, the patient loses interest in life and may have thoughts of suicide.

Burnout syndrome in medical workers

Since the work of medical employees involves regular communication with patients, the syndrome of professional emotional burnout threatens them to a greater extent than people of other professions. That is why it is important for specialists to undergo all kinds of examinations in a timely manner and correct their own behavior.

The work of a doctor is characterized by increased mental stress, frequent conflict and stressful situations. All the time, the doctor is under the gun of other people’s negative emotions, which in any case will affect his state of mind. As a result, in order to protect itself from stress, the body builds a certain barrier, as a result of which the doctor becomes less emotional and susceptible to other people's problems.

Professional burnout syndrome among teachers

A teacher at an institute or a teacher at a school constantly has to interact and communicate with people - colleagues, students, parents.

In this case, burnout syndrome may appear due to frequent psycho-emotional stress, regular noise and insufficient work organization. At the same time, the teacher constantly experiences a sense of increased responsibility and takes everything too personally. To return to normal life, experts recommend that teachers seek help from a psychotherapist, who will not only conduct a relaxing conversation, but also prescribe appropriate medication.

Burnout syndrome among psychologists

The work of psychologists also involves regular interaction with other people. The psychotherapist regularly encounters anger, irritation and temper. Moreover, he goes through every problem of the patient through himself in order to find a truly correct way out of the current situation. In this case, even a strong and self-confident person cannot always withstand the load that has fallen on his shoulders. That is why sometimes psychologists need the help of experienced specialists.

Personal burnout syndrome

A striking example of personality burnout syndrome can be a person’s detached, indifferent behavior. In this state, the patient changes his attitude towards friends and close people, relatives; he can no longer cope with the stress that arises in the workplace. The patient believes that he is no longer competent in his specialty. A person loses the meaning of life, since he does not receive joy or satisfaction from his own achievements. There is a need for loneliness and solitude. His memory deteriorates and concentration decreases.

People with burnout syndrome can also negatively affect their colleagues, friends, and family. Patients constantly break down and make scandals, causing pain to others. It is impossible to help such people without consulting a psychotherapist.

Symptoms

Mental burnout syndrome develops slowly and gradually. At first, the patient feels slightly tired, but later he loses the desire to work and do his favorite things. This condition occurs due to decreased concentration. Along with this, apathy, causeless temper and irritability appear.

Scientists divide the signs of the disease into three groups:

1.Physical manifestations, which are characterized by the following symptoms:

General weakness;
Fatigue;
Joint pain;
Decreased immune defense of the body;
Regular headaches;
Hyperhidrosis;
Lack of appetite;
Change in weight;
Frequent dizziness;
Insomnia.

2. Socio-behavioral signs:

Irritability and anger towards everything that happens;
Complaints about one’s own work and the team;
The desire to find someone to blame for all your failures among other people;
Pessimistic mood, only gloomy forecasts for the future;
Avoidance of responsibility;
The desire to be alone as often as possible.

Sometimes a patient may begin to abuse alcohol or drugs in order to drown out absolutely all the problems at once. As a rule, this does not lead to anything good.

3. Psycho-emotional signs:

Indifference to events occurring in one’s own life;
Self-doubt;
Loss of interest in work;
Conflicts with loved ones, family;
Bad mood for a long time.

Burnout syndrome, in its clinical manifestations, is very similar to deep depression. The patient always feels that absolutely no one, including his family, needs him anymore. He feels doomed and depressed, and it is also difficult for him to concentrate on any important matters.

Diagnosis of the syndrome

It is estimated that the pathology has about 100 different signs. As burnout syndrome develops, the patient increasingly complains of constant fatigue, aching pain in the joints, insomnia, forgetfulness, irascibility, decreased mental performance, and loss of concentration.

Doctors distinguish several main periods of development of the syndrome:

The previous stage is characterized by excessive activity of the patient in the professional sphere. At the same time, the patient is not interested in anything other than job responsibilities.
The next stage is called the period of exhaustion. Its duration has no clear boundaries. The patient experiences chronic weakness that does not disappear even after sleep.
Personal detachment is a new stage in the development of the disease. A person loses interest in his own professional responsibilities. The patient's self-esteem drops, and a feeling of loneliness and doom appears.

To identify the disease, a special test was developed that determines the degree of development of the pathology. In addition, there are 5 most striking manifestations of the disorder, which help to distinguish it from similar mental illnesses:

Emotional: pessimism, indifference, callousness towards other people, cynicism.
Behavioral: attacks of aggression, lack of appetite.
Physical: fatigue, apathy, overwork, insomnia, high or low blood pressure, heart disease, panic attacks, skin rashes, increased sweating.
Social: social activity decreases, the patient prefers loneliness, and limits contact even with family.
Intellectual: concentration and memory deteriorate, refusal to participate in developmental programs is observed, patterned behavior arises.

Treatment

The main problem in the treatment of the syndrome is the non-serious attitude of patients towards this pathology. They believe that to improve their condition, they simply need to overcome themselves and fulfill all professional obligations, even despite the lack of desire and overwork. But such an opinion is wrong.

To cope with the disease, first of all, you need to slow down the pace of life. This does not mean that you should quit your job and abandon all responsibilities. You just need to take care of yourself and, at least a little, rest.

For example, psychologists recommend that housewives alternate household chores with something pleasant that will help them distract themselves and relax: let them watch an episode of their favorite TV series after cooking or read an interesting book after cleaning the house. Such encouragement will not only help you cope with household chores faster, but will also increase your interest in life.

If the syndrome occurs in an office worker, then the best treatment option would be extraordinary leave or sick leave. Usually this period is enough for a person to rest and return to a normal, happy life.

Also, one of the most important places in the treatment of pathology is the analysis of the reasons that led to the development of the syndrome. These factors can be outlined to a friend or written on a piece of paper and then burned. It has been proven that such an outburst of emotions helps improve a person’s moral and physical condition.

Professional burnout syndrome must begin to be treated as soon as its first symptoms appear. Usually, in such a case, getting rid of the disease is quite simple. You should take a break from pressing problems, do what you love and relax. You also need to learn to cope with negative emotions, for example, through regular exercise.

Prevention

To prevent the disease, experts recommend conducting classes that help improve personal qualities and increase the level of resistance to various stressful situations. To do this, the patient himself must take a direct part in the treatment of the syndrome. He needs to know what this pathology is, how to get rid of it and how to prevent relapse. In this case, the main thing is to provide the patient with proper rest and isolate him from his usual work environment. The help of a psychotherapist is also often required.

Typically, emotional and psychological burnout is a consequence of mental and physical exhaustion. Therefore, to prevent the occurrence and development of pathology, the following preventive measures can be taken:

Do some kind of sport, take a walk in the evenings before going to bed. Such activities promote a good mood and the release of all negative emotions. You can choose the type of physical activity depending on your own preferences, for example, running, dancing, volleyball or even figure skating.
Maintain a proper healthy diet, increase your intake of vitamins, minerals and fiber. At the same time, you should avoid products with high caffeine content, as it contributes to stress. It has been proven that within 3 weeks of completely stopping its use, the level of anxiety and worry decreases sharply.
Maintain a positive atmosphere in the workplace. Psychotherapists advise regularly taking at least short but frequent breaks.
Sleep at least 8 hours. Scientists have proven that night rest helps the patient cope with all negative emotions in a shorter time. It is believed that a person is truly awake only when he easily wakes up at the first ringing of the alarm clock.
Find your favorite activity, hobby. There is a moment in everyone's life when it is necessary to quickly reduce emotional stress. It is in this case that your favorite hobby helps. For example, painting or making clay sculptures will help relax the nervous system.
Conduct auto-training, meditation and aromatherapy. In addition, psychologists advise not to take the problems that happen in life too personally. It is important to learn to look your fears in the eye and be able to overcome them.

Burnout syndrome is the body’s cry that it needs rest. Therefore, already at the first manifestations of the disease, you should take at least a few days off and just relax. Traveling, meeting with friends, playing sports, psychological training and other relaxing techniques can reduce the risk of illness and cope with existing illnesses.

Forecast

Burnout syndrome is the result of severe and prolonged stress. At the same time, pathology can disturb absolutely any person. To avoid such a situation, you should get rid of all negative emotions and experiences as quickly as possible. Otherwise, the appearance and development of pathology becomes inevitable. Typically, the disease leads to loss of strength, increased anxiety and anger, and without proper timely treatment, to emotional breakdowns and deep depression. In this case, it is especially difficult to do without the help of a qualified specialist.

Video: specialist on burnout syndrome

Burnout syndrome is a condition when a person feels exhausted morally, mentally, and physically. It is becoming increasingly difficult to wake up in the morning and start work. It is increasingly difficult to concentrate on your responsibilities and complete them on time. The working day stretches until late at night, the usual way of life collapses, and relationships with others deteriorate.

Those who encounter this phenomenon do not immediately understand what is happening. Emotional burnout, in its “incubation” period, is similar to the blues. People become irritable and touchy. They give up at the slightest failure and do not know what to do with all this, what treatment to undertake. That’s why it’s so important to recognize the first “bells and whistles” in the emotional background, take preventive measures and not bring yourself to a nervous breakdown.

Pathogenesis

The phenomenon of emotional burnout as a mental disorder received attention back in 1974. American psychologist Herbert Freudenberg was the first to note the seriousness of the problem of emotional exhaustion and its impact on a person’s personality. At the same time, the main causes, signs and stages of development of the disease were described.

Most often, burnout syndrome is associated with problems at work, although such a mental disorder can also appear in ordinary housewives or young mothers, as well as in creative people. All these cases share the same symptoms: fatigue and loss of interest in responsibilities.

As statistics show, the syndrome most often affects those who deal with the human factor every day:

working in emergency services and hospitals;
teaching in schools and universities;
servicing large flows of clients in service services.

Every day when faced with negativity, someone else’s mood or inappropriate behavior, a person constantly experiences emotional stress, which only intensifies over time.

A follower of the American scientist George Greenberg identified five stages of increasing mental stress associated with professional activity, and designated them as “stages of emotional burnout”:

The man is happy with his job. But constant stress gradually undermines energy.
The first signs of the syndrome are observed: insomnia, decreased performance and partial loss of interest in one’s work.
At this stage, the person finds it so difficult to concentrate on work that everything gets done very slowly. Trying to “catch up” turns into a constant habit of working late at night or on weekends.
Chronic fatigue is projected onto physical health: immunity decreases, and colds turn into chronic diseases, and “old” sores appear. People at this stage experience constant dissatisfaction with themselves and others, and often quarrel with colleagues.
Emotional instability, loss of strength, exacerbation of chronic diseases are signs of the fifth stage of emotional burnout syndrome.

If you do nothing and do not start treatment, the person’s condition will only worsen, developing into deep depression.

Reasons

As already stated, Burnout syndrome can occur due to constant stress at work. But the reasons for the professional crisis lie not only in frequent contacts with a complex contingent of people. Chronic fatigue and accumulated dissatisfaction may have other roots:

monotony of repetitive actions;
intense rhythm;
insufficient labor incentives (material and psychological);
frequent undeserved criticism;
unclear statement of tasks;
feeling undervalued or unwanted.

Burnout syndrome often occurs in people with certain character traits:

maximalism, the desire to do everything perfectly correctly;
increased responsibility and tendency to sacrifice one’s own interests;
daydreaming, which sometimes leads to an inadequate assessment of one’s capabilities and abilities;
tendency towards idealism.

People who abuse alcohol, cigarettes and energy drinks easily fall into the risk zone. They try to increase performance with artificial “stimulants” when temporary troubles or stagnation in work occur. But bad habits only make the situation worse. For example, addiction to energy drinks occurs. A person begins to take them even more, but the effect is the opposite. The body becomes exhausted and begins to resist.

Burnout syndrome can occur in a housewife. The causes of the disorder are similar to those experienced by people in monotonous work. This is especially acute if a woman feels that no one appreciates her work.

People who are forced to care for seriously ill relatives sometimes experience the same thing. They understand that this is their duty. But inside, resentment towards an unfair world and a feeling of hopelessness accumulates.

Similar sensations appear in a person who cannot quit his boring job, feeling responsibility to his family and the need to provide for it.

Another group of people susceptible to emotional burnout are writers, artists, stylists and other representatives of creative professions. The reasons for their crisis must be sought in a lack of faith in their own strength. Especially when their talent is not recognized in society or receives negative reviews from critics.

In fact, any person who does not receive approval and support, but continues to overload himself with work, can suffer from burnout syndrome.

Symptoms

Emotional burnout does not occur immediately; it has a fairly long latent period. At first, a person feels that his enthusiasm for responsibilities decreases. I want to do them quickly, but it turns out the opposite - very slowly. This occurs due to the loss of the ability to concentrate attention on what is no longer interesting. Irritability and a feeling of fatigue appear.

Symptoms of emotional burnout can be divided into three groups:

Physical manifestations:

chronic fatigue;
weakness and lethargy in the muscles;
frequent migraines;
decreased immunity;
increased sweating;
insomnia;
dizziness and darkening of the eyes;
“aching” joints and lower back.

The syndrome is often accompanied by loss of appetite or excessive gluttony, which, accordingly, leads to a noticeable change in weight.

Social and behavioral signs:

desire for isolation, reducing communication with other people to a minimum;
avoidance of duties and responsibilities;
the desire to blame others for one’s own troubles;
manifestation of anger and envy;
complaints about life and the fact that you have to work “round the clock”;
habit of making gloomy forecasts: from bad weather for the next month to global collapse.

In an attempt to escape from the “aggressive” reality or to “cheer up”, a person may start using drugs and alcohol. Or eat high-calorie foods in unlimited quantities.

Psycho-emotional signs:

indifference to events happening around;
lack of self-confidence;
collapse of personal ideals;
loss of professional motivation;
hot temper and dissatisfaction with loved ones;
constant bad mood.

Mental burnout syndrome, in its clinical picture, is similar to depression. A person experiences deep suffering from a seeming feeling of loneliness and doom. In such a state it is difficult to do anything, to concentrate on something. However, overcoming burnout is much easier than overcoming depression.

Treatment

Burnout syndrome is an illness that, unfortunately, is not always paid attention to. People often do not consider it necessary to start treatment. They think that they just need to “push themselves a little” and finally finish the work that has stalled, despite overwork and mental decline. And this is their main mistake.

When mental burnout syndrome is diagnosed, the first thing to do is slow down. It’s not so much to spend even more time on completing work, but to take long breaks between individual tasks. And during your vacation, do what your heart desires.

This advice from psychologists is very helpful to housewives during the period of struggle with the syndrome. If homework is boring to the point of gnashing teeth, its completion is stimulated by pleasant breaks with which a woman rewards herself: if she cooks soup, it means she deserves to watch one episode of her favorite TV series; if she irons things, she can lie down with a romance novel in her hands. Such encouragement is an incentive to do your work much faster. And recording every fact of completing a useful task gives inner satisfaction and increases interest in life.

However, not everyone has the opportunity to take frequent breaks. Especially in office work. Employees suffering from the phenomenon of emotional burnout are better off asking for emergency leave. Or take sick leave for a couple of weeks. During this period, the person will have time to regain some strength and analyze the situation.

Analyzing the reasons that led to mental disorder is another effective strategy for combating burnout syndrome. It is advisable to present the facts to another person (a friend, relative or therapist), who will help to look at the situation from the outside.

Or you can write down the reasons for burnout on a piece of paper, leaving a space next to each item to write a solution to the problem. For example, if it is difficult to complete work tasks because they are unclear, ask the manager to clarify and specify the results that he wants to see. If you are not satisfied with a low-paying job, ask your boss for an increase or look for alternatives (study the job market, send out your resume, ask your friends about available positions, etc.).

Such a detailed description and drawing up a plan for solving problems helps to set priorities, enlist the support of a loved one, and at the same time serve as a warning for new breakdowns.

Prevention

Burnout syndrome occurs against the background of physical and mental exhaustion of a person. Therefore, preventive measures aimed at improving health will help prevent such a disease.

Physical prevention of emotional burnout:

dietary food with a minimum amount of fat, but including vitamins, vegetable fiber and minerals;
exercise or, at a minimum, walks in the fresh air;
adequate sleep for at least eight hours;
compliance with the daily routine.

Psychological prevention of burnout syndrome:

a mandatory day off once a week, during which you do only what you want;
“clearing” the head of disturbing thoughts or problems through analysis (on paper or in conversation with an attentive listener);
setting priorities (first of all, do really important things, and the rest - as progress is made);
meditations and auto-trainings;
aromatherapy.

In order to prevent the emergence of the syndrome or the intensification of the already existing phenomenon of emotional burnout, psychologists recommend learning to come to terms with losses. It’s easier to start fighting the syndrome when you look your fears in the eye. For example, the meaning of life or vital energy is lost. You need to admit this and tell yourself that you are starting over: you will find new motivation and new sources of strength.

Another important skill, according to experts, is the ability to give up unnecessary things, the pursuit of which leads to burnout syndrome. When a person knows what he personally wants, and not the generally accepted opinion, he becomes immune to emotional burnout.

Burnout syndrome - what is it and how to deal with it?

Lately, everyone is talking about burnout syndrome. It is called the “scourge” of our time, and probably for good reason. After all, the life of a modern person is spent in constant tension and stress, not always leaving time for proper rest and relaxation. At work there is constant competition, a race for survival and for a place in the sun. At home there is a boring “everyday life”. In this crazy rhythm, it is not easy for people to maintain sensitivity and their human qualities. Yes, what can I say, sometimes it’s even dangerous! And at some point there comes a point of no return.

Yes, burnout syndrome does not go away immediately. Rather, it acts like a time bomb - gradually, but tirelessly. And as a result, it often provokes problems in communication with other people and serious psychological disorders. The person becomes cold and indifferent towards other people and towards his work responsibilities. Everyone around begins to irritate or cause melancholy.

Why is this happening? What is “burnout syndrome” and what to do about it?

Burnout syndrome (EBS)- a type of professional deformation of persons who, in the course of their activities, closely communicate with people.

In other words, SEW is a reaction of the body that occurs in response to prolonged exposure to work stress.

According to the WHO European Conference (2005), occupational stress is an important problem in approximately one third of workers in the European Union. And treating it and related mental health problems costs these countries approximately 3-4% of gross national income. Impressive, right?

Let us examine the concept of CMEA in more detail. By definition, SEW is a gradual loss of emotional, physical and intellectual energy, resulting in emotional, mental and physical fatigue, exhaustion, a decrease in the level of satisfaction with one's work and personal detachment.

In essence, SEV is a protective mechanism of the psyche developed by a person in response to the traumatic effects of occupational stress. This mechanism manifests itself in the form of partial or complete exclusion of emotions in response to stimuli. That is, a person simply stops reacting to them.

Of course, such protection also has a positive message - it allows you to spend energy in portions and sparingly, without wasting it or on something that a person cannot change. But do not forget that “burnout” also negatively affects work performance and relationships with partners and clients.

A little history

In the early 70s of the 20th century, scientists noticed one interesting fact. It turns out that many workers, after several years of work, begin to experience a state close to stress and seek the help of a psychologist. At the same time, complaints include constant fatigue, sometimes insomnia, headaches, and general deterioration in health. Work ceases to be a joy, but, on the contrary, irritates and causes aggression. A feeling of personal incompetence and helplessness comes, attention, endurance, as well as specific professional achievements decrease. However, psychotherapy methods in these cases did not bring the desired effect.

The first scientific works on this problem appeared in the USA. In 1974, American psychiatrist Freudenberg called this phenomenon “burnout.” It is translated into Russian as “emotional burnout” or “professional burnout.”

In 1976, social psychologist K. Maslach defined “burnout” as a syndrome of physical and emotional exhaustion, including loss of empathy and understanding towards clients or patients, development of negative self-esteem and negative attitudes towards work.

Initially, SEW was considered a state of exhaustion, accompanied by a feeling of uselessness. Later, the number of symptoms of this syndrome increased significantly. Scientists have begun to increasingly associate SEV with psychosomatic well-being, and attribute it to conditions preceding the disease. At the moment, SEV is classified under the heading Z73 - “Stress associated with difficulties in maintaining a normal lifestyle” of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10).

Unlike another very common severe mental condition - depression - SEV is not accompanied by depression and feelings of guilt. On the contrary, SEVs are often characterized by aggression, agitation, and irritability.

At risk

In the course of research, it turned out that CMEA brings serious losses to society - both economic and psychological. For example, there have been cases when experienced pilots, out of the blue, began to experience fear and uncertainty before flying. Such emotional “swings” can provoke not only a person’s personal drama, but also a major catastrophe. But most often people in professions who give the warmth and energy of their souls to other people are susceptible to burnout.

SEV is most common among teachers, doctors, social workers, psychologists, rescuers, and law enforcement officers (in various fields, from a third to 90% of workers are affected by the syndrome). Almost 80% of psychiatrists, narcologists, and psychotherapists suffer from SEV to varying degrees of severity. In 7.8% of cases, such specialists acquire a pronounced syndrome, leading to various psychovegetative and psychosomatic disorders. According to other sources, among psychotherapists and psychological consultants, signs of SEW of varying degrees of severity are observed in 73% of cases, and in 5% it reaches a pronounced phase of exhaustion.

Among social workers, signs of SEV appear to one degree or another in 85% of cases. Almost 63% of nurses in psychiatric departments are diagnosed with SEV.

According to research by English scientists, among doctors in 41% of cases there is a high level of anxiety. A third of doctors use medications to relieve emotional stress; in addition, the amount of alcohol consumed exceeds the average level. A domestic study found that 26% of therapists have a high level of anxiety. Signs of SEV appear in 61.8% of dentists.

SEV is observed in 1/3 of law enforcement officers.

In most cases, SEW is considered as a consequence of stress at work, resulting in maladjustment to the workplace or work responsibilities. One of the most important factors in the emergence of CMEA is long-term heavy loads in situations of tense interpersonal relationships. That is why representatives of communicative professions - teachers, doctors, psychologists, managers, service workers - often suffer from burnout.

How to recognize emotional burnout? Nowadays, there are more than 100 symptoms associated with SEV. It is important to note that sometimes SES can be confused with chronic fatigue syndrome (although they often go together). In particular, with chronic fatigue syndrome, people complain of: increasing fatigue, decreased performance; muscle weakness; poor tolerance to previously habitual loads; muscle pain; headaches; sleep disorders; tendency to forgetfulness; irritability; decreased concentration and mental activity.

SEV has three key features that distinguish it from other diseases with similar symptoms. These include:

1. The development of burnout is preceded by a phase of increased activity, complete absorption in work, denial of other needs and lack of concern about meeting one’s own needs. Following this phase comes the first sign of SEW - emotional exhaustion. Essentially, this is a feeling of overexertion, exhaustion of resources - both physical and emotional, a feeling of fatigue that does not disappear after a night's sleep. Even after a vacation, all these phenomena resume after returning to the previous work situation. Indifference and exhaustion appear, the attitude towards work changes - the person is no longer able to devote himself to work as before.

2. The second sign of SEV is dehumanization, personal detachment. Professionals may view this change in the level of compassion for a patient or client as an attempt to cope with increasing emotional stress at work. But such detachment can soon develop into a negative, sometimes aggressive attitude towards one’s colleagues, clients, and patients. In extreme cases, a person ceases to care about everything in his professional activity; nothing evokes emotions - neither positive nor negative circumstances. The client or patient begins to be perceived as an inanimate object, the mere presence of which is often unpleasant.

3. The third sign of SEW is a negative perception of oneself professionally, a drop in self-esteem, and a feeling of loss of self-efficacy. A person begins to feel that he lacks professional skills, does not see prospects in his work activity, and, as a result, ceases to receive satisfaction from work.

SEV is a combination of physical, intellectual and emotional fatigue. In our time, there is no single concept of the structure of CMEA, but it can still be argued that it represents a deformation of personality due to emotionally difficult and intense communications in the “person-to-person” system. The consequences of such burnout can manifest themselves both in psychosomatic diseases and in psychological personality changes. Both directly affect human health.

All the main symptoms of SEV can be divided into 5 key groups:

1. Physical or somatic symptoms:

fatigue, exhaustion, exhaustion;
weight fluctuations;
poor sleep, insomnia;
general poor health;
shortness of breath, difficulty breathing;
dizziness, nausea, excessive sweating, trembling;
hypertension;
inflammatory and ulcerative skin diseases;
diseases of the cardiovascular system;

2. Emotional symptoms:

pessimism, callousness, cynicism both in work situations and in private life;
lack of emotions;
fatigue, indifference;
a feeling of hopelessness of the situation, personal helplessness;
irritability, aggressiveness;
anxiety, increased unreasonable worry, inability to concentrate;
depression, guilt;
mental suffering, hysterics;
loss of hopes, ideals, prospects in the profession;
depersonalization - people seem faceless, like mannequins;
feeling of loneliness, detachment;

3. Behavioral symptoms:

working more than 45-50 hours a week;
indifference to food;
insufficient physical activity;
“justified” abuse of tobacco and alcohol, as well as medications;
fatigue and the need to rest during labor;
accidents – injuries, accidents, etc.;

4. Intellectual state:

a drop in the level of interest in new ideas and theories at work;
apathy, melancholy, boredom;
loss of interest and taste for life;
preference for standards, templates and routines over creative approaches;
indifference, cynicism towards innovations;
refusal to participate or insufficient participation in developmental trainings and educational events;
performance of work is reduced to a purely formal;

5. Social symptoms:

loss of interest in entertainment and leisure;
decreased social activity;
limiting contacts and relationships exclusively to work;
feeling of isolation, misunderstanding by others and by others;
a feeling of insufficient support from the environment - family, colleagues, friends.

That is, SEV is a whole complex of disorders in the physical, mental and social spheres of human life.

CMEA factors

Are all representatives of “dangerous” professions for CMEA equally susceptible to burnout? Scientists identify three main factors that play an important role in CMEA - role, personal and organizational.

Personal factor. According to research, emotional burnout is not affected by factors such as marital status, age, or work experience. However, it has been observed that burnout develops deeper and more often in women than in men. Also more susceptible to burnout are so-called “overcontrolled individuals”—people who lack autonomy.

Among the main personality factors influencing the development of SEV, psychologists name the following:

humanity, sympathy, gentleness,
a tendency to be passionate about work, to idealize it, and to be people-oriented;
introversion, instability,
“fiery”, fanaticism in ideas,
authoritarianism as a leadership style,
tendency to be cold in expressing emotions,
high self-control, in particular with constant suppression of negative emotions;
tendency to anxiety and depression, due to the unattainability of the “internal standard” and “burying” negative experiences within oneself;
tendency to acutely experience unpleasant circumstances at work.

Role factor. Scientists have also established a connection between SEV and the level of role certainty and conflict. Thus, in cases where responsibility in professional activities is clearly distributed, SEV arises infrequently. In situations where responsibility for one's actions at work is unclear or unevenly divided, the tendency to burn out increases, even if the workload is relatively light. Also very conducive to the development of CMEA are professional situations in which joint efforts are not coordinated, there is no coherence of actions, there is competition between employees, and at the same time, a good result depends on coordinated actions.

Organizational factor. The development of burnout is directly related to the presence of intense emotional activity at work: intense emotional communication, perception, processing of received data and decision making. Also, the organizational factors of CMEA are:

unfavorable psychological atmosphere;
unclear planning and organization of work;
unnecessary bureaucratic issues;
conflicts with management and subordinates;
tense relationships with colleagues;
long hours of labor that cannot be measured;
insufficient remuneration for work;
inability to participate in decision making;
constant risk of fines;
monotonous, monotonous, unpromising work;
the need to show outwardly “unreal” emotions;
lack of proper rest: weekends, vacations, as well as interests outside of work;
working with a psychologically difficult population - with “difficult” teenagers, seriously ill patients, conflict-ridden clients, etc.

Reasons for CMEA

The main reason for CMEA is psychological, mental fatigue. It occurs when demands overwhelm a person's resources for a long period of time. As a result, the state of balance is disturbed, and it inevitably leads to burnout.

According to psychologists, the main reasons for the emergence of CMEA include the following:

1. Exceeding "limits". The human nervous system has a certain “communication limit” - during the day a person is able to pay full attention to only a limited number of people. If their number exceeds the “limit,” exhaustion and then burnout will inevitably occur. The same limit exists for perception, attention, and problem solving. This limit is individual, it is very flexible, depending on the state of the human nervous system.

2. Lack of mutual communication process. We are all accustomed to the fact that the communication process with people is two-way, and a positive message will be followed by a response: respect, gratitude, increased attention. But not all clients, patients, and students are capable of such returns. Often, in the form of a “reward” for efforts, a person receives only inattention, indifferent silence, and sometimes even ingratitude and hostility. And at the moment when the number of such failures exceeds the acceptable limit for a person, a crisis of self-esteem and work motivation begins to develop.

3. Lack of complete results. Often, when working with people, it is very difficult, almost impossible, to correctly evaluate and “feel” the result. Regardless of whether a person tries or not, the result can be the same, and it is very difficult to prove that any particular effort leads to increased performance, and indifference leads to its decrease. This reason is especially common among workers in the education system.

4. Individual characteristics of a person. It is easier for some people to do routine work all day long, but in case of need to mobilize forces and emergency work conditions, it is difficult to count on such people. Other people are able to initially work enthusiastically and actively, but quickly “burn out.” There are good performers who need direct instructions from a manager, and creative workers who prefer freedom of choice in their activities. It is clear that in cases where the tasks assigned to an employee do not correspond to his personality, CMEA can develop faster and deeper.

5. Improper organization of labor, irrational management.

6. Professional activities associated with responsibility for the health, fate, and lives of people.

Prevention and treatment of burnout are similar in many ways: what protects against the development of burnout can also be used to treat it.

All therapeutic, preventive and rehabilitation measures should be directed towards:

relieving operating stress,
increase in professional motivation,
returning the balance between the effort expended and the reward received.

An important role in the fight against burnout is given, first of all, to the patient himself. The recommendations of experts are as follows:

Find time for proper rest. These “time outs” are essential for your physical and mental well-being. The saying “Work is not a wolf, it won’t run into the forest” is more appropriate here than ever;
Reconsider your life guidelines: decide on short-term and long-term goals, do not strive for an unattainable ideal, accept the fact that ideal people do not exist;
Master self-regulation skills - relaxation and relaxation, breathing exercises will help reduce the level of stress leading to burnout;
Take care of yourself. A favorite sport, proper nutrition with a sufficient amount of vitamins and microelements, avoiding the abuse of alcoholic beverages and tobacco, and normalizing weight will help the proper functioning of the entire body, including the nervous system;
Believe in your worth and stop criticizing yourself. Yes, you are not perfect, but, in the end, it is not the saints who make the pots;
If possible, avoid unnecessary competition. An excessive desire to win causes anxiety and aggressiveness, and can lead to SEV;
Don’t forget about professional development and improvement - these can be various advanced training courses, round tables, conferences, etc., which will help raise your self-esteem as a professional and avoid burnout;
Allow yourself pleasant emotional communication with like-minded people - such communication significantly reduces the likelihood of burnout;
Try to carefully calculate and distribute your workload. If you have a very stressful job ahead of you, you should prepare for this in advance. A pile of work that has piled up can provoke depression and aversion to work. Before important periods in your life, make it a habit to rest and get a good night’s sleep;
Learn to switch from one type of activity to another;
Try to take it easy on conflicts at work. Most likely, the person who “poured” his dissatisfaction on you has nothing against you personally, he just has his own unresolved problems. Remember, we are not all saints;
Don’t always try to be the best and first in everything. Excessive perfectionism contributes to burnout.

And remember that burnout syndrome is not a death sentence, and, of course, not a reason to give up your recently beloved profession. Just treat yourself to some rest, think about what is happening, calm down and try to change your occupation for a while. You'll see, as soon as you change your focus, CMEA will retreat!