Did you know that 1 in 5 French people suffer from burnout? This syndrome, or " emotional burn out", is affecting more and more people. It's caused by chronic stress, often work-related. But there are ways of avoiding and overcoming it.

In this article, we'll look at the signs of emotional burnout. We'll also give you some tips on how to balance your life.

Key ideas to remember

• Emotional burn out, a physical and mental exhaustion linked to chronic stress, most often originating in the workplace .
• Main symptoms: intense fatigue, loss of motivation, anxiety and depression
• Solutions exist to prevent and overcome emotional burnout
• Adopting good practices to maintain a balanced lifestyle
• Dare to ask for help and be accompanied if necessary

Understanding emotional burnout

Emotional burnout is a syndrome that is affecting more and more people. It was first identified in the 1970s. Psychoanalyst Herbert Freudenberger used the term to describe the physical and mental exhaustion associated with stress at work.

Burn out en français

Burn out could be translated as exhaustion syndrome, characterized by intense fatigue, loss of motivation and commitment to work. It can also lead to feelings of personal inefficiency. This condition has a negative impact on both physical and mental health.

• Emotional exhaustion
• Depersonalisation
• Decreased personal fulfillment

It's important to understand the causes and symptoms of emotional burnout in order to better combat it and implement prevention and management strategies.

"Burn out is not an illness, it's a warning signal that something is wrong with the way we manage our professional lives."

Emotional burnout

Emotional burnout is a complex, multifactorial health problem. Understanding the root causes is crucial to dealing with it effectively. The main risk factors are chronic stress and work overload.

Chronic stress is a major driver of emotional burnout. Excessive stress can lead to physical and mental exhaustion. This may be due to excessive work demands, a lack of support or a lack of autonomy.

Overwork is also a major risk factor. Working too long and to tight deadlines can lead to fatigue and loss of motivation. A lack of recognition can also undermine the meaning of work.

• Chronic stress
• Work overload
• Lack of recognition

It is essential to prevent these risk factors, both individually and collectively. This includes better time management, listening to employees' needs and valuing their work. A collective effort is needed to combat emotional burnout, involving not only the individual but also the organization as a whole, with a view to tackling it in an integrative and sustainable way.

Burn out: an admission of weakness?

You might think that burnout is an admission of weakness, but it's not. Many people arrive at burnout thinking they have to be strong, that they have to endure, that they have to prove they're capable. This often highlights a lack of self-confidence or self-esteem, a difficulty in setting healthy limits, in saying stop when you're being stepped on.

There will always be people ready to use and wear others down, so saying stop, saying no, will be an act of strength and courage.

Just like asking for help. Because when I ask for help at work, my superiors will automatically have more confidence in me, they'll know that I'm frank and honest and that when I don't know, I'd rather ask for help than pretend and potentially generate harmful collateral effects.

The symptoms of burn out

Emotional burnout is a complex condition. It manifests itself through a variety of symptoms. Among the most common are chronic fatigue and loss of motivation. These signs affect both professional and personal life.

Chronic fatigue

Persistent fatigue is a sign of burnout. Even after a rest, you feel exhausted. This chronic fatigue reduces energy and enthusiasm for daily tasks.

It can make it difficult to concentrate and stay productive at work.

Loss of motivation

Emotional detachment and professional cynicism can also occur. This leads to a loss of motivation for work. The individual finds it hard to get involved in projects, and no longer wants to do anything.

These symptoms of emotional burnout can affect health and well-being. Identifying and treating them quickly is crucial.

Burn out duration

Emotional burnout has a major impact on a person's life. The duration of burn out varies according to a number of factors. Each person is unique, and so is every individual, so it's important to take them into account.

Recovery from burnout can take anywhere from several months to a year. During this period, you need to rest and regain your equilibrium. It is also necessary to implement preventive measures to avoid relapsing into burnout.

The healing process has several stages:

1. A break to detach and release accumulated stress.
2. A reassessment of priorities and career goals.
3. Healthier lifestyle habits.
4. Back to work in a new way.

The road to recovery is a long one. It's important not to return to work too quickly. A cautious, caring approach helps to overcome emotional burnout.

Step	Average duration	Objectives
Rest and relaxation	2-4 weeks	Detach from stress, rest
Questioning	2-3 months	Redefine your priorities and objectives
Establishing new habits	3-6 months	Adopt a healthier lifestyle
Gradual return to activity	6-12 months	Getting back to work smoothly

By following a holistic, caring approach, you can overcome emotional burnout. And prevent relapses.

Learn to listen to yourself and your needs

Learning to listen to yourself and your needs is an essential part of the recovery process. It's a step that involves (re)connecting with your inner child, identifying and defining your needs.

The main question to ask is:

• What I need:
  • Employees
  • Sexual
  • Social
  • Relational
  • Professionals

By knowing our needs, it's easier to make decisions and refuse things that don't satisfy them.

Know your limits

Knowing and accepting your limits is perhaps one of the most difficult things you can do, because it means embracing yourself in your totality, both your bright sides and your shadows. By knowing our own limits, we can see where we are capable, and where we don't feel capable. This will enable us to ask for help, and in most cases, help will be given.

Asking for help is a sign of strength and courage.

Be its No. 1 priority

But if you want something in your life, it's up to you to go out and find it, and to vibrate with it deep down inside. Just as if you want to be loved, it's essential to love yourself for it to work.

Being your number one priority means listening to yourself before doing something, and seeing if it resonates with you or us. This will prevent you from feeding into patterns where you do activities to please yourself to your detriment.

It also makes it easier to set healthy boundaries and avoid being overwhelmed.

When we do things against our will, they have a far greater impact on our bodies and our health than we realize.

Conclusion

It's crucial to combat the signs of emotional burnout quickly. There are ways of dealing with it, such as striking a better balance between work and personal life. Engaging in activities that promote well-being at work can also help to restore serenity.

Asking for help from those close to you is essential to overcoming this pain, and is by no means an admission of weakness - quite the contrary.

Setting healthy boundaries, knowing your limits and expressing how you feel can all help you keep burnout at bay.

By taking these steps, you can combat emotional burnout effectively. It's a way of regaining a balance between work and private life.

Taking care of yourself and your well-being is the key to restoring meaning to your work and to personal and professional fulfillment.

FAQ

What is emotional burnout?

Emotional burnout is a state of exhaustion. It is caused by chronic stress at work. It is characterized by extreme fatigue, loss of motivation and emotional detachment.

What are the main causes of emotional burnout?

The main causes include chronic stress and work overload. Lack of recognition and work-life imbalance also play a role.

What are the main symptoms of emotional burnout?

Major symptoms include chronic fatigue and loss of motivation. Emotional detachment, professional cynicism and feelings of ineffectiveness at work are also observed.

How long does emotional burnout last?

The duration varies from person to person. But it generally takes several months to recover. Prevention is essential to avoid a relapse.

How do you overcome emotional burnout?

To overcome burnout, taking time for yourself is crucial. You need to balance your professional and personal life. Wellness activities and social or professional support are also important.

How do you know when your body says stop?

The body may show signs of exhaustion such as intense fatigue, insomnia, irritability or recurring physical pain. These symptoms are indicators that it's time to slow down and take care of ourselves to avoid more serious exhaustion.

How do I know if I'm in burnout?

You could be experiencing burn-out if you feel extreme fatigue, a persistent lack of motivation, and an emotional disconnect at work. Other signs include sleep disturbances, irritability, and a decrease in your performance or personal satisfaction.