In this fast-paced world, many of us feel a little "burned out" from time to time.
However, true burnout includes a certain degree of physical, mental, and emotional symptoms that intensify over time. If not addressed early, the condition progresses and intensifies, often leading, in its final stage, to clinical depression requiring medication and psychotherapy. Thus it makes sense to identify Burnout early and take steps to reverse it.
This assessment will help you find out whether or not you are in one of the following stages of burnout.
People prone to Burnout (Stage 1) tend to be energetic, enthusiastic, and dedicated to their work. They are often leaders and perfectionist that can have trouble compromising or delegating. They derive a strong sense of identity from their work and may have a tendency to push through demanding situations without stopping.
In Stage 2 of Burnout (Disillusionment), you begin to realize that your expectations for yourself and your job are unrealistic. You may feel confused, impatient and frustrated as you try to meet your goals. You may see early signals of fatigue, irritability and a loss of confidence. Since others continue to perceive you as high functioning and committed, you tend to deny your uneasiness and make every effort to stay positive.
Brownout (Stage 3) separates lower levels of Burnout from more severe stages that can lead to serious illness. Your co-workers may think you're still functioning well, but inside, you're battling indecisiveness, fatigue, irritability and decreased efficiency. You may experience sleep disturbance, changes in eating patterns, and possibly drinking or shopping binges. Whereas symptoms specific to earlier stages
of Burnout are easy to push through or even deny, in this stage you know you're stressed and struggling much of the time.
By the time you reach Stage 4 (Frustration), you've been experiencing chronic fatigue, muscle tension and decreased enjoyment from work and from people for some time. In spite of your dedication and effort, there may be a lack of recognition or reward from your employer or colleagues. At this stage, even if you receive validation for your good work, it may be too little, too late. You've become increasingly cynical, pessimistic and doubtful that things will ever get better. Negative and self-critical, you often feel incompetent and inferior, causing you to withdraw from friends and family rather than load them with your negativity.
Stage 5, the final stage of Burnout, we call Despair. At this point, there's a sense of "nothing left to give" and a wish that you could run away where no one can find you. Feelings of hopelessness, helplessness and entrapment are pervasive and suggest clinical depression. Loss and grief tend to accompany burnout; in fact, losses at this stage seem to come in clusters.
This Despair stage might reflect the end stage of Work Addiction rather than Burnout. The treatment for Work Addiction is very different from that for Burnout. If you are concerned that you suffer from work addiction, see our Work Addiction Assessment.