A person who is currently to burn outin its final phase before collapse, is in denial. She is no longer aware that she is in burn-in!
This is why family, friends, and work circles are so important.
For this, it is advisable:
- to be attentive to one's peers, looking after each other in the work, friendly and family environment
- to have an available, benevolent, attentive attitude in order to engage in discussion on a factual basis If you realise a colleague or loved one is collapsing: Go and talk to them about the symptoms: have you noticed any changes in their life recently? What is causing your headaches, your insomnia?... By starting with the facts, it’s easier to get through. What’s causing you not to sleep? What could you do to get some rest? And then, offer them the questionnaire "Am I a good candidate for burnout?" and then suggest support options.
- to step aside to talk about it with the person as soon as possible (to isolate oneself to talk about it because the person is ashamed, they feel weak and their ego is threatened)
For this, here are the points to watch out for.
There are 12 signs that precede this collapse, both intellectually, physically, and emotionally:
| Your colleague, your collaborator, your employee… | Yes | No | |
| 1 | For x reasons – change of role, lockdown, new responsibilities, harassment, excessive workload, etc. – they express the feeling of no longer being as effective at work, or you notice that they are less effective than usual? | ||
| 2 | He or she shows attention, concentration, and memory difficulties. You notice that he or she struggles to find words, he or she making more and more careless mistakes. | ||
| 3 | He or she compensates with Extended opening hours to try and regain former effectiveness but it's not working. | ||
| 4 | Le repos is no longer repairableUpon waking, he expresses being just as tired. When returning from a weekend or holiday, the tiredness returns immediately. His ruminations prevent him from sleeping. | ||
| 5 | Le His work is his main concernhe doesn't know how to set boundaries. His professional life encroaches on his private and social life. He or she has less and less private and social life. | ||
| 6 | He or she shows themselves Irritable, He or she has outbursts of anger and guilt afterwards; they can switch easily from laughter to tears. | ||
| 7 | No matter how much his entourage warns him, he is in denial Relative to his overwork. He withdraws into himself, with a growing sense of loneliness. It is a frantic persistence. | ||
| 8 | He or she is suffering from various bodily ailments headaches, backaches, physical aches as if one's body is malfunctioning, eating disorders, recurrent viral (ENT) infections, palpitations; rapid weight fluctuations (gain or loss). Reasons for consulting a doctor. | ||
| 9 | To cope, he or she resorts to addictive substances (alcohol, tobacco, drugs, large amounts of coffee/tea, sugar) or hyperphagia or addictions (gambling, compulsive shopping, etc.) (dressing strategy). | ||
| 10 | He or she expresses emotional exhaustion, compounded by the management's denial of their situation. Her tasks are turning into an impossible mission., like an insurmountable mountain and increases every day with a demotivation Increasingly. And a progressive disorganisation. | ||
| 11 | He or she has a risk-taking, accident-prone, or suicidal behaviour. | ||
| 12 | Usually benevolent, they become cynical in relation to the people around them (clients, patients, the public, family, etc.). They work frantically but mechanically. |
If you answer "YES" to the first five signs: Stage of exhaustion No. 1: progressive exhaustion
This is the start of burnout, or what is known as 'burn in'. Indeed, unrefreshing sleep and compensating hyperactivity at work are two of the three constants of a budding syndrome of professional exhaustion. Burnout develops slowly and insidiously. Burnout progresses very slowly. It can therefore be avoided by interrupting it before it reaches its maximum severity. To help your colleague, collaborator or employee come out of denial, you can suggest the questionnaire "Am I in burnout?" https://peggygirault.fr/burn-out )
And they can assess their degree of true suffering using this link to the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), designed in 1981 by American researchers and internationally validated: http://www.masef.com/scores/burnoutsyndromeechellembi.htm
At this stage, I propose a package of 3 hypnosis sessions and 3 coaching sessions spread over 2 months. This is sufficient to regain the balance associated with this professional stress, before suffering the consequences.
If you answer "YES" up to the tenth sign: Phase of exhaustion no. 2: exhaustion requiring cessation
Burnout is well and truly setting in, especially if physical pain is becoming more apparent. Their resources are dwindling. You can cleverly suggest to your colleague, collaborator, or employee that they talk to their doctor about this professional exhaustion; this is a first step. Indeed, once you're out of denial, you've already come halfway. A temporary sick leave should be considered so they can recover. Since burnout is not yet recognised as an occupational illness, doctors most often prescribe sick leave for anxious-depressive disorder or anxious-depressive disorder, as burnout is partly akin to depression. To help your colleague, collaborator, or employee break free from denial, you can direct them to the questionnaire "Am I suffering from burnout?" https://peggygirault.fr/burn-out )
And you or they can assess your/their degree of genuine suffering using this link to the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), designed in 1981 by American researchers and internationally validated: http://www.masef.com/scores/burnoutsyndromeechellembi.htm
At this stage of the process, more in-depth support is needed, comprising 6 hypnotherapy sessions and 6 coaching sessions spread over several months. The aim is to identify the professional situations that drain his energy and lead him to symptom number 10, emotional exhaustion, a typical symptom of burnout. All facets of the problem will be considered:
-physiques (regaining one's physical vitality)
- Emotional (regaining a stable emotional state, putting an end to the roller coaster)
- professional (finding a fulfilling professional path by possibly retraining or working on their working conditions)
If you answer “YES” to the last 2 signs: Phase 3 exhaustion: total burnout
Attention, this is the most catastrophic stage as it often leads to suicide. Burnout is so deeply entrenched that the body gives out: ulcers, lumbago, cardiovascular accidents, plantar fasciitis (inability to walk)... An emergency consultation with a doctor is absolutely necessary.
Persistent cynicism (the insolence of a person who mocks conventions and moral principles) is usually the last step before burnout:
Example:
- The salesman sells anything to his clients.
- The teacher is no longer looking after their pupils.
- The farmer is no longer looking after his animals.
This is the phase of "depersonalisation" and "dehumanisation".
Emotionally, a great sense of emptiness suddenly washes over him. For your colleague, collaborator or employee to come out of denial, you can direct them to the questionnaire "Am I experiencing burnout?" https://peggygirault.fr/burn-out )
And you or they can assess your/their degree of genuine suffering using this link to the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), designed in 1981 by American researchers and internationally validated: http://www.masef.com/scores/burnoutsyndromeechellembi.htm
It is then impossible to return to work, and this inability can last from 1 to 5 years.
A long process of reconstruction will then be necessary, covering the physical, psychological, intellectual, and professional aspects. At least 10 hypnosis sessions are required to regain emotional stability, 10 coaching sessions to regain vitality, and 1 skills assessment to consider a gradual and different return to work.
