The Truth About Burnout

Some are calling the latest wave of physician burnout an epidemic. Recent data presented at the American Psychiatric Association showed that physicians are committing suicide at twice the rate of the general population.

The truth is that burnout can impact all careers and the condition has been around for more than a century. An organizational diagnosis (opposed to medical), burnout is the mental and physical strain on your body, onset by chronic stress. It leads to deep fatigue and exhaustion, as well as cynicism in some theories (the Maslach Burnout Inventory is the most popular).

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What to look for

Burnout victims lose personal efficacy, as well as the inspiration, enjoyment and meaningfullness of their jobs. Excitement dampens and the employee can develop a defensive posture. That feeling that you can conquer anything evaporates. You don’t feel invigorated, rather depleted and tired. The work day just isn’t rewarding anymore.

Remember, not all stress is bad. The right amount can lead to peak performance and most people relieve stress fairly easily. It’s when stress becomes overwhelming and ongoing that is the time to watch out for burnout signs.

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Threats

People who work continuously and don’t take breaks are very vulnerable to burnout. Whether you work two or three jobs, or go home from your 9-5 to a demanding family, if you don’t take a break every once in a while, you will be susceptible to burnout and its negative effects.

The biggest threat is personal interactions. Some people go to work to get away from home because they face poverty, crying kids, no money or a spouse they don’t get along with.

Also, with intense and demanding workloads, you adapt with mental coping strategies — how am I going to deal with this? Burnout victims often take the stance, “don’t worry it’s just a job.” If this continues over a period of weeks and years, you develop a negative attitude about the world. These days such employees are often described as “disengaged.”

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How to deal with burnout

There are a few ways you can deal with burnout. Having a strong support system at home is critical. Having a supportive supervisor can be just as important. Without it, people move on from their jobs. People don’t leave their job, they leave their supervisor.

These tips have also proven to be effective to avoiding burnout. If periods of despondency or burnout symptoms persist, seek the counsel of a behavioral health professional.

• Take strategic breaks: It’s better to take long weekends throughout the year rather than one extended vacation because the refreshment from a weeklong vacation will ultimately wear off. Consistently schedule time off throughout the year and take advantage of holiday weekends.
• Get adequate sleep: Seems obvious, but sleep impacts almost everything you do.
• Cut down on alcohol: It’s OK to have one or two drinks to take the edge off. Burnout victims, though, are at high risk to develop dependency. Be careful.
• Exercise: Working out has numerous health benefits and can be cathartic. Use this as an outlet to relieve stress.
• Set foreseeable goals: Having goals, regardless of size, can be helpful by keeping your mind active and targeted.
• Stay positive: Internal dialogue has a great impact on burnout and stress. What you tell yourself can make or break a job situation and either enhance your burnout or alleviate it.

Written by Curtis W. Reisinger, PhD. Dr. Reisinger is corporate director of Northwell Health’s Employee and Family Assistance Program and Physician’s Resource Network. He is also an assistant professor of psychiatry at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell.

More from The Well by Northwell:

• Live With Less Stress In 4 Steps
• 5 Ways To Exercise At The Office
• 5 Facts About Depression And Mood Disorders

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