Wrestle Back Control — How to Identify and Prevent Burnout

Burnout is an organisational problem

The term “burnout” was coined in the 1970s by the American psychologist Herbert Freudenberger. He used it to describe the consequences of severe stress and high ideals in “helping” professions. (IQWiG)

This article explores the signs of burnout, the causes and some preventative measures.

What are the signs of burnout?

In May 2019, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recognised burnout in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). Burnout is defined in ICD-11 as:

a syndrome conceptualised as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.

Three dimensions characterise it:

1. feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion;
2. increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job;
3. reduced professional efficacy.

In BBC Worklife, Zaria Gorvett quotes Siobhán Murray, a psychotherapist from County Dublin, Ireland:

how do you know if you’re really on the cusp of burnout, or just going through a challenging month? “Stress is really important, and anxiety is what motivates us to do well,” says Murray. “It’s when we’re…