Burnout

"Burnout is a psychological term for the experience of long-term exhaustion and diminished interest (depersonalization or cynicism), usually in the work context." (Wikipedia.com).

I have had the “privilege” of working with a good many burned out healthcare professional in the eight years I have enjoyed (most often;) working in healthcare. There is a whole body of research and literature on this subject now but the major symptom, in my experience, is loss of joy. Not enjoying the client interaction anymore. Other beginning symptoms I have noticed are loosing ones insight: use of humor becomes increasingly inappropriate and comments are made to and about clients that are inappropriate. But the main symptom to look for is lack of joy, I think.

Because of the danger of this I do watch myself, emotionally, pretty intently, both throughout the day, and I do an inventory at night. I also do a bigger inventory approx. once a year. This hopefully all helps with my catching the early signs.

Also alerting my friends and close family of these symptoms so they can alert me if they see them popping up. Last but not least, it is beneficial, I think, to have a good collegial relationship with someone at the workplace. A person that has “permission” to alert me of potential beginning symptoms of burnout I might be displaying.

I am young and have not been in this business for that long, but still I have felt the stingy odour of burnout twice, emmiting from my sensitive skin. Both times I did not set down proper boundaries regarding my work hours and/or work conditions.

I am responsible for taking care of myself. And if my place of work is hurting me, I must do what is necessary to change the situation, and if that is not possible, leave.

Simple, not easy...