Burnout: The Burnout Syndrome At Work

The term Burnout is defined as the feeling of discomfort produced by an excess of work-related effort. In the person, this discomfort is usually the direct consequence of a very intense and/or very prolonged stress, so that this pressure ends up overcoming their resources (psychological defenses) to face it. In addition, its incidence is greater in jobs that are part of support or help networks (doctors, nurses, psychologists, etc.).

The affected person can manifest the syndrome in different ways. In this sense, one of the most visible symptoms would be lack of motivation, which causes the quality and quantity of care to decrease. Therefore, we could say that it is considered a state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion produced by the continuous involvement in emotionally demanding situations.

Maslach, one of the most outstanding authors in this area, defines it as a syndrome characterized by “emotional fatigue that leads to a loss of motivation, which often gives rise to feelings of inadequacy and failure”.

The three axes on which burnout syndrome is articulated

The three axes in which the Burnout syndrome is articulated would be:

• Tiredness and emotional exhaustion: people with this syndrome have the feeling of not being able to offer more help or more quality support to the patient or family member in front of them, which often makes them feel powerless. The professional cannot give more of himself to others, and feels tired and fatigued psychologically, and often also physically.

• Depersonalization in the treatment: because of the previous process, the professional adopts a treatment of indifference. He shows himself more distant with the patient or family member, so he doesn’t do his job as he should or as he would under normal conditions.
• Feelings of failure due to lack of personal and/or professional fulfillment: in the long run, this makes the work not produce as much satisfaction as before, and the professional begins to have feelings of failure or non-fulfillment. It is characterized by frustration – the impotence mentioned in the first point –, low self-esteem and disillusionment with professional achievements.

It is a chain or a process that is fed again, so it does not need to follow the same order in all professionals, nor is its evolution always gradual. On the other hand, what usually happens is an “escalation of symptomatology”, so that the first symptom, unless an intervention occurs, usually gives way to others.

This does not mean that all professionals involved in support networks, related to work with death or illness, will wear out. There are professionals who, faced with jobs as heavy as palliative care or oncology, emerge stronger. Whether the coin falls one way or the other will depend on many of a person’s coping capabilities and managing their own emotions.

Dealing with Burnout

There are certain elements (experiences, people, situations, etc.) that we cannot change or over which we do not have absolute control. Things that are as they are. Things that we wish were otherwise, that seem unfair, that shouldn’t be.

But… they are like that, just like that. In this sense, in order to take care of ourselves, it is convenient to distinguish what can be done and what cannot be done ; between what it is and what it should be. This will protect us from powerlessness, frustration, guilt and anger.

It is important to accept that:

• We are responsible for what we do, not guilty. We can always choose how to react to what happens.
• We all have limits and we need to take care of relationships: both what we keep with ourselves and those we keep with others.
• Pain and suffering affect us: it is normal, we are people. This will help us find out more about ourselves.
• Emotions have their own rules and are hardly subject to the dictates of reason. It works that way even if you are a healthcare professional.

Effective resources against burnout

For the treatment of Burnout, two psychological resources are generally used – with very powerful therapeutic effects. We talk about acceptance and compassion. Both are about releasing tension and allow us to maintain the motivation and willingness to proactively direct our energy. In this sense, proactivity consists of making decisions for yourself, taking control of what you do without justifying yourself in something external.

In this way, acceptance and compassion allow us to set real and achievable goals, and guide us to finally reach them. It’s about focusing on what you want, not what you fear. For this, it is important to look for adequate information and invest in quality training. For example, training in techniques such as mindfulness, which is based on mindfulness focused on the current moment.

Self-regulation procedures are also gaining importance in this area. By this term we refer to those strategies that allow us to control our own behavior (emotional, cognitive and motor), to achieve an adaptation to the situation  and circumstances that frame it.

In short, the underlying general approach is simple: regain control over the important personal choices (such as being dedicated to helping others) that allow the chosen task to be accomplished as effectively and at the lowest emotional cost as possible.