The following about Burn out is going to a bit text heavy. It might be worth skimming it, looking at each stage and some of the dot points associated with it, and come back another time to read it in depth.
Some frameworks suggest that burn out consists of three stages
Stage 1 – Stress Arousal
Stage 2 – Energy Conservation
Stage 3 – Exhaustion
Stage 1 - Stress Arousal
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Bruxism (grinding teeth at night)
- Insomnia
- Forgetfulness/poor concentration
- Gastro-intestinal disorders
- Headaches
Stress Arousal.
Stress arousal includes physiological and psychological responses. Some of these include persistent irritability, persistent anxiety, periods of high blood pressure, bruxism (the grinding of teeth during sleep), insomnia, and forgetfulness. Additionally, you may have heart palpitations, unusual heart arrhythmia, concentration problems, headaches/stomach problems, and acute gastrointestinal symptoms. With the presence of any two of these, you may be experiencing stage 1 stress arousal.
Stage 2 - Energy Conservation
- Lateness
- Procrastination/turning work in late
- Excessive time off
- Sexual dysfunction
- Fatigue
- Social withdrawal
- Increased substance use
Energy Conservation.
Energy conservation attempts to compensate for stress. If those strategies fail, consequences might include excessive lateness; procrastination; excessive time off; sexual dysfunction (desire, performance); persistent tiredness; social withdrawal from friends and family; increased cynicism; resentment; increased substance use (nicotine, caffeine, alcohol, prescription drugs); excessive apathy; and lack or loss of spirituality. Again, any two of these symptoms may signal you're in stage 2 of the burnout cycle.
Stage 3 - Exhaustion
- Chronic sadness/depression
- Suicidal ideations
- Chronic headaches
- Social isolation
Exhaustion
The exhaustion stage is where most people finally get a sense that something may be wrong. The symptoms include: chronic sadness or depression, chronic stomach or bowel problems, chronic mental fatigue, chronic physical fatigue, chronic headaches or migraines, the desire to "drop out" of society… the desire to get away from family, friends, and even recurrent suicidal ideation. Like the previous stages any two of these symptoms can indicate stage 3 burnout.
