Running on Empty – the Risk of Burnout

The term 'burnout' has now entered the popular jargon, which means it can get over-used and applied when people are talking about being tired and fed-up. But burnout is far more serious than that.

Caution: Don't be tempted to 'over-diagnose'. Anyone can experience some of these symptoms some of the time, without suffering from chronic stress or burnout. 

Work burnout can make you feel that you are 'running on empty'. The symptoms are insidious, and the effects mean that many people fail either to recognise them, or to act early enough to avoid them.

We are all used to the idea of stress; it is now a recognised fact of life in many jobs. But burnout is different and more serious. If you see the signs in yourself, it's time to take urgent action. If you don't, the risks to your health increase. The longer you leave it, the harder it will be to restore your normal levels of vitality and motivation.

If you are experiencing constant high demand and you are feeling pressure in your job you can begin to suffer from chronic stress. This happens when there is no let-up or opportunity to do the things in life which help combat the effects of high demand. 

If you ignore tell-tale signs of chronic stress, the effects can accumulate and lead to burnout. 

It is a reaction to prolonged and unremitting stress that results in physical, emotional and mental exhaustion. 

Typically, this is accompanied by feelings of cynicism, a loss of interest in the job, self-doubt and doubts about the value of your work, loss of confidence, and feelings of overwhelm and helplessness.

It's not all about work. Increased pressure from circumstances at home – like caring for someone who is elderly or ill, for example – can contribute because it depletes your energies and makes you less able to cope with the demands of your regular job (burnout was first identified as an area of academic research in healthcare workers in the 1970s).

Stress is an adaptive response to the pressure and demand arising from challenging circumstances. Whereas work-related stress can make you feel dissatisfied and frustrated with your job, burnout will include physical and emotional fatigue, hopelessness, cynicism and even loss of compassion.

Stress can be debilitating but it can usually be remedied by awareness of the problem and self-management techniques (stress management). Once you are away from the stressful situation the symptoms generally dissipate fairly quickly.

Burnout requires a more radical response. You should seek support for your mental and emotional wellbeing as a matter of urgency. Ignoring the signs can put you at greater risk of more serious illness.

Burnout leaves you feeling worn out and exhausted. If you are unfortunate enough to experience it, burnout is a clear sign that you have been under too much pressure for too long. 

For example, if your job means you have to deal with constant, high demand, you might feel unable or unwilling to balance it with restorative breaks and leisure time. You may be highly committed to your job, and unable to live up to your professional or ethical standards (common among healthcare workers during the pandemic). Unless you take steps to combat the resulting stress, it can accumulate until you are overwhelmed. 

Chronic stress and burnout also distort your thinking. I regularly see people in my practice who have  failed to recognise the problem for what it is. They have soldiered on, often complaining, yet failing to seek the support and help that they needed, early enough to break the cycle and avout total burnout.

Stress affects each of us differently. No two people react the same way. Consequently, while one person can fall prey to burnout, a colleague in the same situation may not. There are behavioural and psychological reasons for this, so lifestyle, outlook, and personal coping styles all play a part.

Recently, the research on burnout has taken a more social focus, looking at engagement, the culture, and the specific workplace aspects that can put employees' health and well-being at risk.

The symptoms of burnout should be taken seriously and acted upon to relieve the pressure and support the sufferer. However, don't be tempted to 'over-diagnose'. Anyone can experience some of these symptoms some of the time, without suffering from chronic stress or burnout. 

Burnout occurs when most of the symptoms are experienced most of the time. That means feeling mentally exhausted, depleted, unable to care, hopeless, and sometimes, self-neglect.

With stress, you are aware of excessive pressure and demand, but you know it can be relieved (even if you are unable to do anything about it immediately). 

By contrast, you may not be aware of burnout in the same way. It leaves you beyond caring because you are both mentally and physically exhausted. 

© Barry Winbolt 2023