Professional burnout

Professional burnout is a special case of professional deformation. Term "Emotional burnout" (burnout) first introduced into psychological practiceAmerican psychiatrist Freidenberg in 1974. The syndrome of professional burnout is associated with prolonged exposure to stress-forming factors of medium intensity associated with professional activity. In fact, professional burnout is a long chronic stress.

More than others, professional burnout is Professions related to intellectual activity and communication with people: journalists, doctors, school teachers anduniversity teachers, managers, etc. Professional burnout is characterized by the emergence of a sense of indifference to work, to colleagues (even if they used to be quite nice to you) and generally to everything that is happening. A person loses self-confidence, begins to blame himself for lack of knowledge, experience, competence and professionalism.

The syndrome of professional burnout is accompanied and physical symptoms. Because negative emotions constantlyaccumulate, it can lead to the depletion of the emotional and energy resources of the body. Exhaustion is expressed in increased fatigue, constant fatigue, sleep disorders (insomnia), irritability, headaches, deterioration of hearing and vision (which at first glance may seem causeless).

The emergence of the syndrome of professional burnout is significantly affected three factors - Personal, role and organizational. Let's look at each of these factors in some detail.

The Personal Factor. On professional burnout have no influenceexperience, marital status and age. However, psychologists believe that the syndrome of professional burnout is more common in women than in men. Women are often inclined to experience emotions more emotionally in their professional activities and problems with their colleagues.

Usually professional burnout occurs inpeople are soft, humane, prone to empathy. Such people are idealists, they are people-oriented. At the same time, they easily ignite the idea, get carried away, and this hobby can reach fanaticism. At the same time, the syndrome of professional burnout is dangerous for authoritarian, emotionally cold and reserved people with a low level of empathy.

Role factor. The syndrome of professional burnout is muchemployees of collectives in which the responsibilities and responsibilities of employees are evenly distributed are less exposed, there is no or minimized competition. A fuzzy or uneven distribution of responsibility for professional actions, inconsistency of joint efforts, lack of integration of actions and competition increases the likelihood of professional burnout.

Organizational factor. The syndrome of professional burnout directlyis associated with intense psycho-emotional activity: the need for intensive communication, reinforced by emotions, intense perception, processing and interpretation of information, decision-making. Also, professional burnout causes unfavorable atmosphere in the team, incorrect organization and planning of activities, bureaucracy, conflicts in the team, the need to work with a psychologically difficult contingent (conflict clients, seriously ill, difficult teenagers, etc.).

Professional burnout is not a whim, but a serious disease that can lead to unpleasant consequences if it is started. At the first symptoms of professional burnout costs consult a specialist-psychologist, and if these symptoms are physical, youyou may need to consult a therapist. To diagnose professional burnout, psychologists use special tests, and to combat it - special training and exercises.

Unfortunately, the fight against professional burnoutsometimes impossible without a change of job. If you understand that your work does not suit you with something (duties, salary, team, boss, etc.), if no trainings and exercises help you get in a positive mood and start working with enthusiasm, if your work seems you are meaningless - you may have to change it. You do not want to "burn at work"?