Burn out usually affects the committed

Health: Burnout often affects those engaged in work and private life.

(23.06.2010) People who are very committed and committed to their jobs have to take care of their mental health. Because the committed people are often affected by the burn-out syndrome. Through increased engagement, many are working beyond their own borders. But beware: those who exaggerate and do not know their limits quickly get out of the tracks and feel empty.

In the worst case, those affected are affected by a burn out. As explained by the occupational physician Ulrike Roth of TÜV Rheinland: "Who burns out, has previously burned for something". Often it is the "top employees" who are extremely motivated to carry out their work. They have high expectations and expectations are automatically set by the work environment. The common reason for being "burned out" are unrealistic expectations of yourself and your accomplishments.

The burn-out syndrome is no longer a so-called "manager's disease" anymore. According to a study by Techniker Krankenkasse, one in three employees now feels burned out and exhausted. Very often women are affected who have to manage a double burden. In addition to the job, they must provide the household and the family in addition. The old role pattern is still present in many families.

To prevent a Born Out, it is important to get a positive balance. These can be sports activities, regular recreational and time off or relaxation exercises. It is also important not to let the job grow "over your head". Affected people must learn to find a border between a healthy commitment and a dedicated commitment. It makes sense to learn to hand in work and not just to edit the entire desk. If one feels an inner urge to go beyond regular working hours and to have to do all the work, this inner attitude sooner or later leads to overburdening the person concerned.

Employers should learn not to overburden their employees. This attitude is ultimately uneconomical, as a Born-Out Syndrome high absenteeism occur when employees fail due to sick leave. As the Federal Psychotherapeutic Chamber announced earlier this year, sick leave due to mental illness since the 90s has almost doubled. The reasons for this are constantly increasing pressure to perform, stress in the workplace and constant overworking situations of the employees.

Initial symptoms of a burn out

In the beginning, there are clear signs of impending burn out ("burned out"). In the initial phase, those involved show an increased commitment to certain goals, and many work "nonstop" even after working hours and on weekends. You feel "indispensable" and think "without one, the work will not continue". The work develops continuously to the point of life. Own needs are increasingly being replaced. Team members or colleagues depreciate the person concerned, because they are not supposed to have the same "work ethic". Conversely, many colleagues turn away from one. Stress and anger in the workplace are the result.

To compensate for the stress and anger, many seek their comfort in alcohol, drugs, smoking, a lot of food and frequent sexual intercourse. A chronic fatigue and exhaustion is spreading, social contacts are increasingly limited or limited only to "business partners". Other indicators include hyperactivity, increased discomfort, depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, lack of concentration and dizziness. At the latest with these warning signals affected persons should take help.

A burnout is always to be understood as a process and can express itself differently. These examples may or may not be true. Everybody deals with constant stress, overstrain and stress differently. Appropriate warning signals should take seriously affected persons and act. If there are signs of Born-Out syndrome, sufferers should seek therapeutic treatment. Here, sufferers can learn to reorganize their life philosophy, to set new priorities and to learn relaxation phases. (Sb)

Picture credits: RainerSturm.