Do you ever have the feeling that your own life is becoming too much for you? That your to-do list can be published in book form and that you are behind the times 24/7? Chances are we are, because we are women after all and we are really busy. In addition, make we may also be a little busy at times. About everything. That's not much of a problem and we usually manage surprisingly well, running from daycare to work to supermarket (girlpowerrr!). But sometimes things go completely wrong, and how do you see that coming? In other words:how do you recognize serious burnout symptoms?
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“Gosh,” Joyce says, “I read here that women get burned out more often than men”. The term 'women's ailment' was not coined for nothing (with a specific emphasis of course on the monthly recurring 'problem'), but that even burnout can be classified under it is new to us. The article that Joyce read is quite short and does not answer the questions that it has raised in us (for example:why are we women the worst again, what are typical burnout symptoms?). As befits a true investigative journalist, I start up Google.
It soon becomes clear to me why it is better not to use this all-knowing source as a source if you really want to write a scientifically sound piece, because one contradictory article after another is flying around my ears. According to one, men more often suffer from a burnout, then it's the ladies' turn again. Worse still, I can't even come up with a clear answer to the question of what exactly a burnout entails and what burnout symptoms there are. So a lot of clicking and reading, but I'm none the wiser yet. Time to take it a bit more seriously.
In my bookcase is a dusty and almost unread copy of Organizational Behaviour*, a book I bought for my unfinished Human Resources studies in the distant past. Will it still come in handy? Of course burnout is also discussed and although the book is a bit older, I hope the doctors who wrote it have done their homework. I read that burnout is work related in most cases, but it doesn't have to be. Often there is also (a combination with) an emotionally difficult private situation that continues, such as someone who provides informal care for a longer period of time, which can cause burnout symptoms.
According to the authors, burnout starts with “emotional exhaustion.” You feel physically exhausted and mentally overwhelmed and feel like you can't take it anymore. This clearly goes beyond being tired after a busy Friday night week. You find it increasingly difficult to sort things out for yourself and you feel like you are losing overview and control. This ultimately results in the feeling that you are not adequate for your job and that you feel useless or, on the contrary, powerless. This can make you feel depressed, so that you no longer enjoy relaxation, which you could use so well.
Very interestingly, the authors state that work-related burnout is more common among men and women who work with people who have serious problems or who are in extreme situations, for example hospital staff, teachers, social workers or police officers. Do you notice something about these professions? More and more women work in care, education and the social sector, while these are apparently precisely the professions where employees more often suffer from burnout, partly due to the emotional stress that this type of work can entail. Stress that some also take home…
Moreover, it is argued, burnout is most common among people with great ideals and who are very passionate about what they do. Now I don't want to put men down.. but I think women are often very perfectionistic – albeit all in our own way. We all want to do it right, and preferably everything at the same time… We often set high standards for ourselves. If the environment also demands a lot, you can get the feeling that the water is at your fingertips.
Luckily I'm not an expert yet. Do you know or are you someone who has a burnout, and do you want to share your story? Leave your comment below, I think we can all learn something from that.
According to the big pill I checked, you can't get rid of work-related burnout and burnout symptoms if you keep doing the exact same job. The only thing that helps is creating distance. When someone is already mentally overloaded, it is almost impossible to continue to function in the already emotionally difficult situation. This creates a downward spiral, as it were. Career interruption therefore seems insurmountable. Another tip I read is one strenuous activity a day, otherwise try to really relax alone. Also try to get rid of your guilt – no matter how much you want to go back to work. And seek expert help; cognitive therapy has been developed to combat burnout and burnout symptoms. Although a lot of people still disagree about the effects of this, you guessed it. Do you have any tips or advice?
*Organizational Behavior – Understanding and managing life at work
Johns (G.), Saks (A.), 2007.
