The term burnout covers various kinds of problems, all of which have to do with feelings of overload, exhaustion and dissatisfaction. The term comes from English and means “to burn out”. There is no uniform, binding definition of burnout.
In the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), burnout is listed under category Z73 (problems related to life-management difficulty). This means that this “state of total exhaustion” is officially not regarded as a disease in its own right but as an additional diagnosis.
Even though burnout is not a medical diagnosis in its own right, the syndrome can lead to complete incapacity for work.
Burnout: a serious problem
Being burnt out is a serious problem in today's society. More and more people are affected, and sick leave due to burnout symptoms is increasing. The economic costs for Europe as a whole are estimated at approximately 20 billion euros per year. A study by the Robert Koch Institute found that 4.2% of adults in Germany are affected by burnout syndrome.
Cases of incapacity for work due to burnout increased almost tenfold between 2006 and 2017.
How does burnout syndrome develop?
The cause of “burning out” is usually persistent stress at work. However, private burdens, for example caring for a relative, can also lead to burnout.
Many people affected by this total emotional exhaustion initially approached their tasks with a great deal of idealism and energy. However, “burning for a cause” does not necessarily have to precede the illness. More important for its development appear to be excessive physical, mental and emotional strains that persist over a prolonged period.
Experiences of frustration and certain personality traits are additional causes. People who tend towards perfectionism and people who perceive themselves as having little influence are thus considered more at risk of burnout.
Burnout syndrome usually develops slowly, over a period of years.
Symptoms of burnout syndrome
The signs of burnout syndrome can vary from person to person. They include:
- emotional exhaustion, “inner emptiness”
- sleep problems
- irritability
- bitterness
- indifference, disdain and cynicism towards others
- feelings of failure, of lack of success and of one's own worthlessness
- a feeling that one's own efforts are pointless
- personal withdrawal
- reduced initiative
- depression
- physical symptoms such as muscle tension, headaches, circulatory or gastrointestinal problems
- concentration problems
- memory difficulties
- inability to make decisions
Because similar symptoms can also be associated with other diseases, a diagnosis of burnout should be made by a specialist doctor. Exhaustion and tiredness can, for example, also be associated with an underactive thyroid or with cancer.
The most common symptoms of burnout are lack of energy, reduced performance and persistent tiredness accompanied by sleep disorders.
General burnout therapy
Behavioural therapy measures are particularly important in the treatment of burnout syndrome. Attitudes or outlooks on life that have a stressful effect must be questioned and changed.
It is also crucial to improve one's own conflict-resolution and problem-solving skills. Various relaxation techniques and exercise additionally help to reduce stress.
Where possible, the stressful external circumstances (e.g. working conditions) should also be changed.
A crucial addition: exhaustion therapy according to Dr. med. Gerhard Ohlenschläger®
Classic psychological burnout therapy can be effectively supported if the body's glutathione system can be brought into balance. This is based on the finding that a lowered intracellular glutathione level can be measured in virtually all burnout patients. It is partly responsible for the severe physical exhaustion. This is where Eumetabol® infusion therapy comes in. It is based on the classic exhaustion therapy according to Dr. med. Gerhard Ohlenschläger®, but additionally uses the advantages of infusion as a dosage form.
Clinical experience confirms the positive effect of S-acetyl-glutathione (SAG in Eumetabol®) as a complementary therapy for burnout.