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During the last 15 years research concerning the topic "burnout" has been increasing. There are also a number of different classifications which reach from 3 to 30 burnout stages.
The concept "burnout" describes a process which contains a huge number of mental, spiritual and physical states where people shift from a state of relative well-being deeper and deeper into states of restlessness, strain and exhaustion.
Burnout is mostly rooted in excessively demanding situations within the professional life which usually consist of a combination of personal motivation and insufficient recognition.
At the beginning of a burnout-process stands high motivation and the readiness to get involved in challenges.
In the course of the process the challenge becomes excessive demand. Excessive demand creates fear - the situation becomes threatening - the axis of stress is activated. "Axis of stress" is a physical reaction all vertebrates possess that helps our body to get ready for survival and/or escape.
Because of these considerations we stick to the implementation of Thomas Bergner concerning our description of burnout stages and levels (Burnout bei Ärzten, Schattauer Verlag 2006; Burnout Prävention, Schattauer Verlag 2007).
The following three phases (which merge into each other) can be distinguished:
1. Phase of aggression and activity (fight)
In the early stage hardly anyone affected realizes what situation they are in. Even people who perceive the beginning, cannot imagine what can develop in the future. According to one's will this phase can last up to three years, in extreme cases even decades. Real psychological strain is rare in the first phase . In this stage people are still very efficient. They have high expectations and demands towards themselves and their employees. They show a rather fierce behavior; sarcasm and cynicism are typical communicative reaction forms. The feeling of the indispensability with concurrent denial of one's own needs determine the picture. Orientation on the gratitude of clients, and a - still - controlled handling of alcohol, nicotine, shopping and other material traps lay the foundations to the other phases. Very few consider they might be affected by burnout at this stage.
2. Phase of escape and retreat
In this phase the behavior acts towards protection. One's own efficiency decreases whereby not only one's own discontent increases but also the discontent of clients and employees. Typical characteristics are aimlessness, the feeling of having too little time, abstraction and lack in terms of workmanship. One's lifestyle is changing. Eating habits become unstable, exercise is either carried out excessively (sportaholic) or hardly ever done. The affected individual starts to feel replaceable. The escape behavior begins. Distance to others and also to oneself seems to create calm and protection. Affected persons do not perceive themselves properly anymore; contact with clients is minimized. Humanity and empathy decrease. One flees more and more of social contacts outside of their workplace. Panic attacks can appear and physical symptoms increase. If contacts occur, one seems passive and bored. The question "What is wrong with you?" is being asked more and more.
3. Phase of isolation and passivity
In this final phase psychological strain starts to increase. Help is required. Addiction plays an important role.
In order to fight the feeling of intolerability, hopelessness and upcoming suicidal trends at least temporarily, a large number of substances with effects on the motivation system is consumed: alcohol, medicine, drugs, tobacco. Depressions and panic attacks become more frequent. Partnerships break apart; sexuality is no longer important. Internal satisfaction is practically completely absent . One's own aims and goals have been forgotten long ago. In the final stage the affected individual suffers from existential despair and a feeling of help- and hopelessness.
Physical and mental breakdown is near, suicide danger high.
Hans Finder und Edi Czamler
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