Burnout is a state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion caused by prolonged stress. It occurs when one feels overwhelmed and unable to meet constant demands. As stress continues, interest and motivation decline. Burnout reduces productivity and energy, leaving one feeling helpless and resentful. Symptoms include physical fatigue, insomnia, gastrointestinal issues, and psychological symptoms like cynicism, low morale, and irritability. Behavioral symptoms include poor job performance, withdrawal, increased absenteeism, and substance abuse. The document outlines 12 stages of burnout including neglecting one's needs, denial of problems, and inner emptiness. It provides tips to eliminate daily stressors through monitoring in a stress diary journal.

1. Stress Diary Journal Guides Guide 16: Symptoms of Burnout
Guide 16:
Burnout
12 Stages of Burnout
Stress Diary Journal
1. A compulsion to prove
Your Guide oneself
2. Working harder
3. Neglecting one's own
needs
4. Displacement of
What is B urnout? conflicts (the person
does not realize the
or hobbies are completely
root cause of the
Burnout is a state of emotional, P hases of B ur nout dismissed)
distress)
mental, and physical exhaustion 6. Denial of emerging
5. Revision of values
caused by excessive and problems (cynicism and
Psychologists Herbert (friends or hobbies are
prolonged stress. It occurs aggression become
Freudenberger and Gail North completely dismissed)
when you feel overwhelmed and apparent)
have theorized that the burnout 6. Denial of emerging
unable to meet constant 7. Withdrawal (reducing social
process can be divided into 12 problems (cynicism
demands. contacts to a minimum,
phases, which are not and aggression
necessarily followed becoming walled off; alcohol become apparent)
As the stress continues, you or other substance abuse
sequentially, nor necessarily in 7. Withdrawal (reducing
begin to lose the interest or may occur)
any sense be relevant or exist social contacts to a
motivation that led you to take 8. Behavioral changes
other than as an abstract minimum, becoming
on a certain role in the first become obvious to others
construct. walled off; alcohol or
place. 9. Depersonalization (life other substance abuse
1. A compulsion to prove becomes a series of may occur)
Burnout reduces your produc- mechanical functions)
oneself 8. Behavioral changes
tivity and saps your energy, 10.Inner emptiness
leaving you feeling increasingly
2. Working harder become obvious to
3. Neglecting one's own 11.Depression others
helpless, hopeless, cynical, and
needs 12.Burnout Syndrome 9. Depersonalization (life
resentful. Eventually, you may
feel like you have nothing more 4. Displacement of conflicts becomes a series of
to give. (the person does not real- mechanical functions)
ize the root cause of the 10.Inner emptiness
distress) 11.Depression
5. Revision of values (friends 12.Burnout Syndrome
What are the symptoms of burnout?
Physical Symptoms: ‘A state of
 Physical exhaustion/fatigue mental and
 Depression
 Insomnia or sleeping more than usual physical
 Headaches exhaustion -
 Gastrointestinal problems/ulcers
 Lingering colds/frequent colds/flu due to
 Weight loss or gain prolonged
 Shortness of breath
 Hypertension
stress”
 High cholesterol
 Coronary disease
 Impaired speech and Sexual Dysfunction

2. Page 2
P sychological S ymptoms
 Rigidity to change/loss of flexibility
 Loss of concern and feelings/apathy
 Cynicism/negativism
 Emotional exhaustion/loss of emotional control
 Low morale/sense of futility
 Loss of patience/irritable
 Inability to cope with unwanted stress
 Feelings of anger/bitterness/resentment/disgust
 Boredom
 Reduced self-concept
 Dehumanising clientele/Labelling
 Loss of idealism/disillusion
 Frustration
 Inability to make decisions
 Feelings of powerlessness
 Suspicion/paranoia
 Guilt feelings/feelings of failure
“ Eliminate  Depression
the small  Alienation
 Increased worry
daily  Over-confidence/taking unusually high risks
stressors  Stagnation
 Feelings of being everything to everyone/Omniscient
as indicated  Loss of Charisma
by our
Stress
Diary
Journal and B ehavioural S ymptoms
the
accumulate  Low job performance/Low job satisfaction
d effects of  Decreased communication/withdrawal
 High job turnover/leave position
burnout will  Increased absenteeism
bypass you”  Loss of enthusiasm for work
 Increased drug use
 Increased marital/relationship and family conflict
 High alcohol use
 Lack of focus on job/lack of purpose and priorities
 Accident proneness
 Increased complaints about job
 Forgetfulness/poor concentration
 Workaholism
Copyright © www.stressdiaries.com

3. The Stress Diaries we have available
Page 3
The Stress Diary Journal
This 4 week programme to complete stress mastery, is an invaluable tool to effectively manage your stress -
to gain insight and explore self understanding. The Stress Diary Journal allows you to record your daily stress
incidents & to monitor these incidents and analyse them – on a daily basis, for a period of 4 weeks. Divided into
4 weekly sections for you to master your stress progressively and more competently, it helps you review your
initial appraisals, stress responses, your reactions & to identify your stress triggers, to then restructure your
thoughts, your attitude and subsequent behaviours. You will be able to easier identify negative behaviour
patterns, to increase your stress awareness, to learn new coping skills and to let you adapt new & alternative
strategies. You will learn renewed self management skills, inner control, effective goal setting, time
management skills, to overcome obstacles and increased perseverance to complete set tasks and to instil
newfound routines, competencies and behaviours. It helps you to know yourself and manage your life more
completely. This is an invaluable tool to gain unique insight, explore self-understanding, learn stress
management skills and effectively manage your stress – in 4 weeks!
With a purchase of any of these Diaries, you get full Stress Management Support
@ www.stressdiaries.com
Stress Diary: Daily Recorder Journal
A companion guide to the Stress Diary Journal in a handy size to carry about , and for you to easily record
your daily stress entries. Each Stress entry is individually presented for ease of recording ‘on the go’ and to
then transfer these entries to your Stress Diary Journal, or this Stress Diary: Reflection Journal, at the
end of your day. Making remembering these Stress incidents/events much easier and keeping you in touch
with managing your stress more effectively.
Get a FREE Relaxation Music MP3 !
With your purchase of any of these
Stress Diary: Reflection Journal
This Stress Reflection Diary Journal is a companion guide to the Stress Diary/Journal and used as an
additional tool to further enhance your insight and understanding of your stress. You are to choose
1 significant Stress Entry per day, from your Stress Diary Journal for the length of your 4 week programme,
that you may want to elaborate and focus on. Using the guideline questions and answer spaces that are
provided, and you can add your personal notes or thoughts about your day or progress. Weekly summaries of
your progress are included, to advance and monitor your progress and by answering these questions and
adding your own observations, you will increase your skills at understand, managing your reactions and
responses to your daily stress triggers and stressors. The Reflection Journal is an easy way to record and
focus on how to reflect on your experiences and how you can learn from it.
Get these Stress Diary Journals at www.stressdiaries.com
Copyright © www.stressdiaries.com