I’m under a lot of stress,… completely burned out …, I’d like to pack it in …, my battery is flat…!’. Who has not heard similar comments when people are talking about their work? Are such statements, which are as much part of a modern service society as the mobile phone and computer, just everyday phrases, excuses for a lack of performance, or are they symptoms of a disease which can be summarized by the term ‘burnout syndrome’?
More and more people suffer from burnout, and are constantly exhausted, both physically and mentally. It’s often triggered by stress and overextension at work. But there are other causes, and they’re usually as individual as the victims.
Following the evolution of the stress, new terms have emerged, as is the case of Burnout Syndrome. The term Burnout is the result of the junction of two words, burn and out. This term forwards to a significance which implies burn something to exhaustion, i.e. until it is consumed throughout the power available. This term was used to describe worker´s reaction to the chronic stress and it is common in occupations involving multiple interactions with people. Nowadays, burnout syndrome can be considered as an epidemic across the world. Burnout is a serious process of impairment in the worker`s quality of life which can lead to serious damages of physical and mental health. The high incidence of this syndrome can be seen among professionals such as teachers, doctors and nurses. According to the literature, the burnout among healthcare professionals may occur as a result of a variety of reasons including, disparity between what the person gives and receives in the workplace, organizational issues, emotional and physical intensity of nursing care, stress in work-place, continues exhaustion, inadequate physical working conditions, rotational work schedules that disrupt social and family relationships, Unsafe working environment, being exposed to the clients’ psychological, socioeconomic and physical problems, understaffing, lack of resources, inadequate salaries, inadequate security.
This syndrome is characterized by emotional exhaustion, lack of professional success and depersonalization, and can affect individuals in any professional categories and age groups. Even so, the Burnout Syndrome has greater incidence among the young workers, especially those that have not yet reached the age of 30 years, and whose experience is almost zero. In these cases, the young face realities which are not those which meet their expectations, becoming insecure. The Burnout syndrome is often stimulated by excessive motivation or expectations that these young people deposit in your future, since these cannot be reached. The anxiety was considered a predictor of great significance in the burnout syndrome, affecting all its dimensions except the personal realization with the job. Thus, the individuals with high levels of anxiety are more vulnerable to occupational stress and burnout.
The symptoms of burnout patients are usually multidimensional with several psychiatric, psychosomatic, somatic and social disorders. The main psychiatric symptoms are, in addition to chronic fatigue and continuous exhaustion, includes concentration and memory disturbances a lack of drive and personality changes (a lack of interest, cynicism, aggressiveness). Severe disturbances are anxiety and depressive disturbances, which can culminate in suicide. Also the development of addictions (e.g. alcohol, medicines) has been associated with burnout. Common somatic symptoms are headaches, gastro-intestinal disorders (irritable stomach, diarrhea), or cardio-vascular disturbances such as tachycardia, arrhythmia, and hypertonia. Other symptoms are: loss of energy – withdrawal, resignation – aggression – negativity – loss of social contacts – insomnia, migraine and nausea. In addition, depending on the duration and severity of the burnout, there are often further negative social consequences. These include, from the point of view of the individual, withdrawal at the workplace (so called ‘inner resignation’) or effects on private life (partner/ sexual problems, social isolation). From the perspective of society, there is an increased risk of repeated or long periods of absence from work and early invalidity. This syndrome includes emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and lack of professional achievement/staff by the individual worker. It is considered that in the presence of Burnout Syndrome, the individuals are no longer capable of performing professional functions. Syndrome of burnout and depression seems to have the same meaning; however there are differences between them. A depressive individual you will feel guilty for everything it happens, while, the person with Burnout just feel fury
Measures to prevent burnout can be differentiated according to the preventive approach and levels of prevention. Preventive approaches to be considered are both modifications in the working environment (prevention of circumstances) and also improvements in the individual’s ability to cope with stress (behavioral preventive measures). The prevention of Burnout Syndrome requires therapeutic actions at the social level, individual, group and organizational level, but also requires educational actions. It is still extremely important that, once this syndrome appears, whether recognized by those who suffers from it and in that sequence, look for help for the treatment. As for the various institutions, they shall adopt mediated essential to the prevention of exhaustion, how to renew the work environment and create different strategies to combat stress.
JEELANI SAIMA HABEEB CAN BE REACHED AT Saimahabeeb786@Gmail.Com
