The 5 stages of burnout

by | Aug 27, 2021 | Burnout in Healthcare, Work-related stress

burnout
Burnout is a major concern for healthcare workers. This has never been a more urgent issue.  The last 18 months of the Covid pandemic have been brutal and gruelling.  Studies have shown that in January 2021 58% of UK healthcare workers reported feeling depressed or hopeless, 71% had difficulty falling asleep, and 48% said work was affecting their personal relationships.

 

But we know that we are not yet in the all-clear, and we also face massive waiting-list backlogs.  This is in addition to pre-existing crises in staff recruitment, retention and sickness levels.  Thus healthcare workers are at grave risk of burnout, which is bad for them, and bad for patients.

 

Identifying the early warning signs of burnout can help as getting support early can prevent things from getting worse.  Freudenberger outlined 5 stages of burnout:

 

5 stages of burnout

 

1) Honeymoon

This phase, usually at the start of a new job or role, is characterised by enthusiasm, high energy levels and commitment. We feel very productive and creative, and happy to take on responsibility. We might also feel a strong drive to prove ourselves.

 

2) Onset of stress

Inevitably things don’t always go smoothly at work and our initial optimism and enthusiasm starts to wane when we have difficult days.  We may experience a sense of stagnation as our efforts feel less rewarded.  If we can make use of positive coping strategies at this point we may be able to remain on an even keel, and continue to get satisfaction from our work most days.  However, if the balance starts to tip towards less helpful coping strategies such as neglecting our own needs in order to work harder or longer, we can develop stress symptoms such as: irritability, trouble concentrating, anxiety, social withdrawal, poor sleep and headaches.

 

3) Chronic stress

When this stress persists our lives can become more limited – we spend more and more time worried about work, and get pulled away from our personal priorities.  This leads to life feeling much less rich and fulfilling, which in turn increases stress levels. This chronic stress can bring with it a sense of failure and powerlessness. If this is coupled with a lack of acknowledgement for our efforts we can also start to feel inadequate, incompetent and unvalued.

In this stage we might experience persistent exhaustion, resentfulness and cynicism. We might notice increasing withdrawal, avoidance or increased reliance on substances.

 

4) Burnout

This stage can be characterised by apathy, despair and disillusionment. Things can seem hopeless and we may have persistent doubts about ourselves or constant worry. Physical symptoms such as headaches and gastro-intestinal problems may be frequent.  We might also see changes in our behaviour such as isolating ourselves, or acting out of character.

 

5) Habitual burnout

In this stage we experience severe emotional, mental and physical exhaustion, as well as depression and anxiety. It’s likely that we’d struggle to work and would need support.

Being aware of these stages and signs can help you to identify when you, or a colleague, needs to reach out for support.  Burnout affects us all differently, depending on our work circumstances and what we’ve been through.  The key thing is to know that you are not alone, and that there are lots of sources of help out here, including:

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