Exhausted, they continue to work and push themselves to their limits. Burn-on sufferers often suffer for years from constant stress with health consequences.
Frankfurt – Professionals who feel burned out often suffer from burnout. They feel exhausted and listless and can usually no longer carry out their work. But what about the people who continue to work despite exhaustion? The psychotherapist Timo Schiele, together with the specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy Prof. Bert te Wildt, has now defined the term burn-on in their book "Burn On: Always Shortly before Burn Out". It refers to a precursor of burnout syndrome that can be dangerous for those affected.
As early as 1970, the term burnout was coined by the psychotherapist Herbert Freudenberger. Sick people are often overloaded and overwhelmed in their everyday work. They feel increasingly exhausted and eventually "burned out". Over time, they develop an inner rejection of work and can no longer carry it out. The switch to working from home also carries a risk of burnout, as break times are often not adhered to. But not only work, but also other overwhelming life circumstances can lead to burnout, according to gesundheitsinformationen.de.
In contrast to burn-out syndrome, the first signs are overlooked in burn-on syndrome, as those affected continue to function in everyday life. (Symbolic image) © Westend61/IMAGO
How burnout differs from burn-on syndrome
A long-lasting burn-on phase is a precursor to burnout without forcing those affected to suffer from burnout. In both cases, the patents suffer from permanent states of stress and exhaustion. But in the case of this burn-on syndrome, people do not burn out, but simply continue to burn out. These features are therefore characteristic:
| Burn-on syndrome | Burnout syndrome |
|---|---|
| Headaches, tension, functioning at work | Lack of power and drive, reduced performance |
| Low demarcation from work | Aversion to work |
| Source: Barmer DE→EN |
According to gesundheitsinformationen.de, experts are still debating how exactly burnout can be diagnosed and by which symptoms it can be defined. This makes it very difficult for psychotherapists and psychiatrists to classify the clinical picture, as burnout is not recognized as an independent disease. Rather, it is said to be a factor that negatively affects health and, in some cases, is associated with other psychosomatic illnesses, such as anxiety disorders or depression.
This is how burn-on syndrome affects the psyche
But Bert te Wildt defines burn-on as a state of exhaustion and depression hidden behind a smile. Often, those affected are on the verge of a breakdown, but unlike burnout patients who take sick leave, they simply carry on. This leads to long-term suffering, which can also affect private life. According to Barmer, relationships, friendships or hobbies can be neglected by stress. Those affected often suffer from the following psychosomatic symptoms:
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- Feeling like you're never enough
- Inner emptiness, meaninglessness
- Desperation
- Joylessness
- Fatigue and simultaneous inner restlessness
- Insomnia
- Source: German Press Agency
This is how burn-on syndrome can be treated
One approach to counteract the permanent stress is the 4-day week, which is currently being discussed a lot in the media. But often the cause lies in the inner attitude towards work. According to the Barmer health insurance company, it is often about the feeling of success, recognition and the pressure to do justice to today's working world. Therefore, the so-called hamster wheel can only be stopped by a long-term change in the attitude to work. The signs of burn-on are often overlooked, but psychotherapy can help to identify patterns and change them.
Otherwise, the constant stress can also have serious physical consequences. According to the Federal Ministry of Health, the body is on constant alert due to stress and this can lead to high blood pressure, gastrointestinal complaints and a weakened immune system. Shortness of breath, headaches, teeth grinding and skin problems can also be the result. Therefore, those affected should also react to the first signs in the burn-on phase.
Editor's Note
The information provided in this article is not a substitute for going to a doctor. Only specialists can make the correct diagnosis and initiate appropriate therapy. The use of medication or dietary supplements should be discussed with a doctor beforehand.
Proper relaxation must first be relearned, as well as the demarcation from work. "You have to ask yourself: What am I willing to give, to achieve and what clearly exceeds my limits and then to mark that," says Bert te Wildt and advises working this out in psychotherapy. In addition, many health insurance companies promote prevention programs to assess stress through relaxation techniques. (mima)