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OVERVIEW

Learn how your body's physiology determines where in the burnout cascade you are falling.

Discover which stage of burnout you fall into, and why burnout is more than "just feeling tired".

The most strategic thing you can do for your health is to understand your starting point - right now.

Stage One - The Honeymoon Phase

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Life is good right now. Much like a new romantic relationship, the habits and responses to a new environment (like a new job, a move, a child, or a promotion) that are created now can determine your burnout risk in further stages. It is difficult to see the drawbacks of the boundless energy that comes alongside the Honeymoon Phase. The key at this point is to create roles, processes and a model that supports your needs, before your energy dwindles and you move to stage two. And remember, the "healthier" you are going into Stage One, the longer it takes to move to Stage Two. This is one of the reasons why burnout is easy to "flare up" again and again if you're not supporting yourself in recovery.

Symptoms of the Honeymoon Phase can include:

High Levels of Productivity

Job/Environment Satisfaction

Readily Accepting Responsibility

High and Sustained Energy Levels

Unbridled Optimism

A Commitment to Prove Yourself

A Positive Reward From The Work You Are Completing

Stage Two - The Balancing Act

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This is where you start to "feel" the stress of the expectations you've placed on yourself, or someone else has placed on you. As stress ramps up, the adrenaline becomes difficult to maintain, and you start to notice that things are starting to slip through the cracks. You might notice that you're having a bit of trouble sleeping, you're starting to gain a bit of weight, you're skipping means and you're actually feeling stressed or overwhelmed periodically. You might mention it to people around you, and it gets brushed off. "Oh, that's just what it's like being a new parent", "you know how it is", "welcome to being a teacher", "that's the life of an entrepreneur", "it just doesn't stop", "but we're living in a pandemic". These statements can go on and on, making you feel like you're doing something wrong if you're not feeling this way.

The truth is, when you hit these warning signs, you might start to double down and do MORE. You feel like you need to catch up. You might feel like you need to work harder to get back to your groove.

Not so much. These are warning signs that you need to slow down, or pull back. Otherwise, you're going to be staring at Stage Three.

Symptoms of the The Balancing Act can include:

Mid-Afternoon Crashes

Brain Fog

Difficulty Sleeping (not usually every night)

Trouble Making Decisions

Not Waking Up (as) Rested In The Morning

Over or Under Eating

Job Dissatisfaction

Feeling Jittery Or Panicked

Spending Less Time with Friends, Family or Hobbies

Stage Three - Chronic Stress

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Sometimes the transition from Stage Two to Stage Three can take months or years, and sometimes it can take weeks. It all depends on the amount of balls you're juggling. For instance, when the world was in the heart of lockdowns in mid-2020 we saw that clinically people were shifting from Stage Two to Stage Three much faster because there were more sustained and stronger stressors at play. And, people didn't get a break in the same way.

Chronic Stress will include symptoms relating to changes in your energy, physical changes, your immune system, and emotional changes. Many people experience what we call avoidant behaviours because it is more difficult to cope in your environment. People in this stage may experience more irritability, anger and depression. It is common in this stage to start to really dislike your work, to ask yourself if it's worth it, to dislike spending time with co-workers or friends because you get annoyed at situations earlier. There is an element of depersonalization starting to appear, and you may have trouble perceiving your own needs (like every time you skipped lunch last week to just "get a few extra things done").

Symptoms of the Chronic Stress can include:

Increase in Numbing Behaviours and Avoidant Behaviours

Strong Mood Changes (depression and anxiety -type symptoms)

Chronic Exhaustion

No Longer Waking Up Rested

Craving Salt & Sugar

Second Wind In The Evening

Low Appetite

Weight Gain

Stage Four - Crisis

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At some point in the burnout cycle, symptoms become critical and this is stage four. Your physical symptoms get worse, your frustrations at work and home hit breaking points and you have an overwhelming desire to escape. You might experience digestive system changes, muscle tension, anxiety and depression symptoms. You may also feel like there's no "off switch" at this point.

There is an element of emeshment in this stage of burnout. You may be more likely to be labelled as having some significant physical or emotional problem than you are for these symptoms to be addressed as burnout. You cannot tell where you and your personality end, and where the burnout begins. You might ask yourself whether there's something wrong with you, whether you'll be successful in the future, whether any of these symptoms will get better, and if you'll be able to thrive. Research shows that people are more likely to be diagnosed with an autoimmune condition in this stage of burnout, but what we don't know right now is whether it was the stress from your autoimmune symptoms that put you at risk for burnout, or whether it was the burnout that put you at risk for an autoimmune response.

Symptoms of the Crisis Stage can include:

Anxiety Symptoms

Depression Symptoms

Mood Disturbances

Avoidant Behaviours Take Over

No Motivation

Changes In Hormonal Patterns

No Sex Drive

Emeshment Of Burnout Into All Parts Of Your Life

Fluid Retention

Achey Joints

Headaches (constantly)