Bore-out Boredom can sometimes cause serious illnesses

Bore-Out: When boredom makes you sick and depressed
Although most people understand the phenomenon of burn-out, only very few people know that even under-demanding can make them ill: People who suffer from a bor-out are at increased risk of becoming depressed. Especially for older people, prolonged boredom can be dangerous.

Continuous under-demand can make you sick
Burn-out is a concept for most people: Stress and overwork burden the health. However, only a few are known that one can also get sick by under-demanding. More and more people now complain of boredom in the job or in private life. Psychologists call this phenomenon Bore-out (derived from the English word for boredom: Boredom), as the news agency dpa reports. The on-going under-demand leads, among other things, to persistent depression, listlessness, chronic fatigue, sleep disturbances, and the inability to enjoy life. Health experts sometimes add physical symptoms such as abdominal pain, upset stomach, dizziness, headache and tinnitus or tinnitus. Bore-out, which can also end in depression, is observed, especially in the workplace through boredom in the job, but many seniors are affected. This has to do with the fact that quality of life in old age largely depends on the feeling of being needed.

Boredom makes you sick. Image: Peter Maszlen - fotolia

Symptoms of burn-out and bor-out
"The symptoms are the same as with a burn-out," said Ursula Lehr to the dpa. Even in old age, seniors can still be affected. For example, when the partner suddenly dies and a big hole remains. "This is especially true for women over the age of 80, who gave up their jobs by marrying and then lived mainly for their husband," said the emeritus professor of psychology, who led the Department of Gerontology in Heidelberg. All of a sudden, the days lose their usual structure and a feeling of emptiness arises.

Retirement live out properly
However, a bor-out does not necessarily occur in old age. Often the time is short after retirement begins precarious. "Here are still - especially men affected, because often define their lives very strongly about their work," explained the psychologist Julia Scharnhorst. Retirement breaks down a lot in workaholics, which lack the time for hobbies and friends. It can help to prepare for it. For example, by clarifying how the days should look as a retiree, what activities you want to pursue or if there are acquaintances that you would like to meet again. "Under no circumstances should the pension be understood as idleness," says Scharnhorst. Seniors should use the time, for example, to intensively pursue their hobbies. The limits are only the own will. "Many have these expectations in mind, as older people are supposed to be," said Scharnhorst. However, everyone should question this role model: "It's about how you want to live yourself, not how you think society sees fit."

Meaningful and challenging tasks
The counselor of the psychologist: Tasks that one undertakes should be meaningful and challenging. For example, you can take on volunteer work, study again or learn a new language. This also helps to keep the brain fit into old age. Lehr also finds that seniors need to see meaning in their activities. It therefore recommends that you first think carefully about what is up to you and how much time you can invest in the new task. There are many organizations that help with volunteer work. Suitable contact points are volunteer agencies, senior citizen offices and meeting places. A non-profit company from Bonn, the Senior Expert Service (SES), sends retired professionals to operations in Germany and abroad. "Many want to give back to society and want to be used in retirement," said spokeswoman Heike Nasdala. The Senior Partner in School (SiS) association teaches senior citizens to mediate in schools. Often enough to get out of the mental hole of a bore-out, already a bit of structure. Lehr calls a simple example: "Daily newspaper reading."

Seniors have stigma from the Nazi era in mind
Or maybe discover the internet. "There are many honorary sponsors who teach you how to use them," says Lehr, who is also chair of the Federal Association of Senior Citizens Organizations (Bagso). The internet also makes it easier to stay in touch with the family. A grandson thinks it's cool to skype with the great-granny. But in some cases, all these tips are not enough. "Because it can lead to depression, psychological help is often needed," Lehr explained. According to the Bagso chair, however, old people are often afraid of going to a psychologist because they still have the stigma of the Third Reich in their heads. "In the case of the Nazis, mentally ill people were regarded as unworthy lives, which is why many older people still shy away from visiting the practice." In addition, doctors sometimes misjudge the Bore-out Syndrome. "You sometimes assume that the symptoms indicate dementia," Lehr said. About one fifth of all cases of dementia are due to depression. These, in turn, often originate in a bore-out. (Ad)