Are You Just Fatigued Or Is It Burnout?

“I’m really burnt out today,” you say to your friends after a very stressful day at work.  Then you join them for a jog and a coffee afterwards. Given this scenario, chances are that you are not suffering from burnout.

Burnout is a well-defined mental health syndrome caused by continuous, unresolved stress. There are specific symptoms which develop over of time and, if not managed, it can have serious physical, mental and social consequences.

Read on to find out what exactly what burnout is, the signs and symptoms, possible consequences, and what to do if you think you are suffering from this condition. 

What is Burnout?

Burnout was included as a recognised syndrome in the most recent revision of the World Health Organisation’s International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). While not seen as a medical condition, it is listed under factors which influence health status.

Burnout is related to the workplace only, and not to any other parts of life. It is caused by long-term workplace stress which is not addressed. In other words, one has to distinguish between feeling tired and stressed out and actual burnout.  

We all go through periods of high stress at work, some days worse than others. When conditions change, or after some rest and relaxation, we usually get back to normal. Burnout, on the other hand, builds up slowly over time when stress is continuous and you never fully recover from it.   

ICD-11 lists three dimensions of burnout:

  • Depleted energy and feelings of exhaustion.

  • Distancing from, and feeling negative and cynical about work.

  • As a result of the above, reduced efficiency at work.

Symptoms of Burnout

The above dimensions can manifest in a variety of signs and symptoms, which are mostly related to the effects of chronically high levels of stress hormones.

Energy depletion and exhaustion can show up as feeling mentally and physically tired all the time. You could experience sleeping problems, forgetfulness and lack of concentration. Ongoing high levels of stress hormones also lower the immune system and you could get frequent bouts of colds and flu.

Evidence of distancing from the job is when you lose interest and no longer take any pleasure in your work. You just show up and go through the motions, avoid work when you can, and interact with colleagues as little as possible. You may become irritable, short-tempered, pessimistic and highly critical about the workplace.

Clearly the above symptoms will eventually lead to loss of productivity and poor work performance. You know that you are ineffective but feel just too apathetic and hopeless to do anything about it.

Potential Consequences of Burnout

Obviously, a person suffering from burnout will be unable to function effectively on either a professional or a personal level. In the end you could lose your job.

Furthermore, if ignored, burnout can lead to chronic health conditions associated with elevated levels of stress hormones. This includes high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes.

Burnout is also often the underlying driver of alcohol and substance abuse, depression and suicide.

What to do if you have burnout

The extensive study into the mental health and wellbeing of FIFO workers in 2018 found that burnout among FIFO workers was significantly higher than in the benchmark group.

Recognise the symptoms of burnout in yourself? This is a serious condition and you need to turn it around by taking purposeful action and getting support. Burnout develops over a long period and healing will take time and effort – there is no quick fix.

As a starting point, depending on your circumstances, discuss the problem with your supervisor or HR Department, or a health care practitioner. Make use of mental health support services provided by your employer or ask for a referral.  Also take stock of your working situation and lifestyle to identify areas where you can take steps to relieve stress and introduce new habits to improve your mental health.

If you’d like to learn more about how to manage fatigue, click the link to head over to our sister company and enroll into our Fatigue Management for FIFO Workers online course - https://www.tclhacademy.com.au/course/fatiguemanagementfifo

 

Josh Cohen