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How to know if you suffer from burnout or syndrome of being burned at work
Psychology
On a mental level, both anxiety and stress are the main symptoms that lead to the development of this syndrome
Do you like to go to work or, on the other hand, is it quite an ordeal? We are not talking about whether the work you do is more or less attractive, but about whether the atmosphere in your workplace makes you feel good. Otherwise, if you feel unwell and that discomfort will also affect your personal life, it is very possible that you are being a victim of ‘burnout’.
This syndrome, as the general psychologist Paloma Rey tells us, is a psychological alteration that is related to work and that «can degenerate into a disorder due to the damaging effects on the quality of life of the people who suffer from it. Its characteristics are common to those that we can find in anxiety or mood disorders, such as depression, avoidance behaviors, etc.
To find out if you really have this syndrome, you have to pay attention to a series of symptoms:
1. Mental exhaustion and generalized physique. Paloma Rey tells that the worker presents a “loss of energy at all levels that affect his health”. Signs of physical exhaustion include chronic fatigue, loss of appetite or weight gain, muscle aches, gastrointestinal problems, migraines and even dysregulation of the menstrual cycle in the case of women. “At the mental level, both anxiety and stress are the main symptoms that give rise to the development of this syndrome, which can also trigger depressive symptoms and insomnia”, the expert indicates.
2. Depersonalization. The person suffering from this syndrome can develop changes in behavior, presenting an attitude of indifference and detachment and drastically reducing their commitment to work. This, in turn, affects how you deal with your co-workers, as harshness and irritability are part of your routine. In addition, this change can degenerate into an alteration of your relationships with clients, family and friends.
3. Low levels of productivity and high demotivation. “All of the above results in a drop in productivity on the part of the worker and a level of demotivation high enough to generate frustration and thus show the absence of personal development and fulfillment at work,” says Paloma Rey. In addition to presenting frequent forgetfulness, there is a lack of attention to tasks and a generalized laziness that hinders the worker’s ability to concentrate.
So that this does not happen or stops happening, the psychologist warns of the importance of getting on track in its prevention: «Time should be dedicated to teaching the worker techniques and strategies that allow him to handle stressful situations, as well as planning good habits self-care, “he says.
However, if the burnout syndrome has already made its appearance, it is recommended to identify and modify the conditions of the job that have produced it. Paloma Rey comments that in those cases in which the person is subjected to prolonged exposure, “it may be necessary to resort to psychological counseling, relocation of the position or, even, the accompaniment in the workplace to rectify the habits acquired that harm the both physical and mental health of the worker ».
“If we protect the worker with symptoms compatible with this syndrome we can avoid the appearance of other health problems of greater importance and recover a motivated, efficient and healthy worker, not only in his work environment but also in his personal life”, he concludes .