Overload makes you sick Bore-out syndrome

Overloading the job can make you sick. The syndrome is called "Bore-out syndrome".

(27.06.2010) Most people know the technical term for burned out, the "burn out syndrome". Due to the constant overstraining, the reduction of social contacts and personal interests due to the job, especially very committed people fall into the burnout trap. Not very well known is the syndrome "Bore-out" (boredom). As the Frankfurt psychotherapist Wolfgang Merkle told "Welt Online": "The burn-out is much more respected than to complain that you do not have enough to do, is wrong or is not interested in his work".

Symptoms of a burnout.
The symptoms can be very similar to burnout. Most patients complain of headaches, sleep disturbances, inner restlessness, depression, weakening of the immune system and consequently a higher susceptibility to infections. Constant stress at the workplace also causes stress. According to Merkle, women are somewhat more susceptible to this mental illness than men.

Dissatisfaction and boredom increase.
Paradoxically, many patients remain in a disgruntled workplace situation. The victims try to mask the lack of interest, indifference and boredom with supposed work tasks. If, for example, a supervisor enters the room, the person concerned suggests numerous business tasks. When the boss is gone again, the boredom is turned back. The reason for the persistence in the dissatisfied work structures is the growing under-demand. The person concerned wants to at least pretend that he is "very needed", although only "boring tasks" are transferred to him. Basically, however, those affected want challenges, but are considered for useless or boring activities.

For the first time, the diagnosis Boreout was reported in March 2007 in a textbook by Philippe Rothlin and Peter R. Werder. In the book, various strategies were presented that can be applied to a bore-out. Since then, the topic of contexts and causes has been discussed in the professional world. (Sb)

Also read:
Burn out usually affects the committed
Study: Fear of Hartz IV makes you sick

Image: Konstantin Gastmann.