The burn-out based on Dr. Christian Stock
Understanding Symptoms, Causes, and Solutions
Burn-out (or BO) is more than just stress. Stress is the cause, burn-out is the consequence. It represents a state of chronic exhaustion where physical, emotional, and psychological resources are drained.
In France, despite the growing recognition of burn-out as a professional disease, no official reimbursement by governmental social security entities existed in 2015, leaving many sufferers without adequate support.
Finding the Balance Between Stimulation and Tension
Human beings need a balance between stimulation (motivation, challenges, goals) and tension (pressure, demands, responsibilities).
Too little stimulation leads to boredom and disengagement.
Too much pressure without recovery leads to burn-out.
When the curve of enthusiasm collapses under excessive demand, frustration and apathy take over.
The 3 Main Symptoms of Burn-out
1. Exhaustion
The most visible sign is physical and emotional exhaustion, often described as “running on empty.”
Chronic fatigue
Muscular tension
Sleep disorders
Memory problems
Anxiety and depression
Loss of emotional regulation (crying, irritability)
Sense of emptiness and isolation
2. Detachment
Burn-out often leads to detachment from work and others. What begins as emotional distance can evolve into:
Cynicism
Sarcasm
Aggression
Contempt for colleagues, clients, or even loved ones
This distancing is a defense mechanism to cope with overwhelming pressure.
3. Inefficiency
A paradox of burn-out is that it often starts with excessive commitment. People push beyond their limits until their productivity collapses.
Decline in concentration and efficiency
Frustration with performance
Feeling “useless” despite efforts
Loss of motivation
From Enthusiasm to Apathy: The Burn-out Cycle
The process often follows this trajectory:
Enthusiasm → Overload → Frustration → Disappointment → Apathy
Perfectionism, urgency, and the drive to “always do more” create a gap between expectations and reality. When meaning and recognition are missing, only the strict minimum remains.
Causes of Burn-out
Internal Stress Factors
Personality traits (perfectionism, ambition, need for success)
Transactional Analysis (TA) drivers such as Be perfect, Hurry up, Please others
Lack of resilience and coping strategies
Fragile coherence between values and environment
External Stress Factors
Excessive workloads and 24/7 solicitations
Increased regulatory and informational demands
Lack of recognition or respect at work
Value conflicts between personal ethics and organizational culture
Toxic environments or unresolved conflicts
Burn-out results from the interaction between internal vulnerability and external pressure.
Measuring Burn-out: Christine Maslach’s Model
Psychologist Christine Maslach developed the Maslach Burnout Inventory (1981), one of the most widely used tools to measure burn-out. It focuses on the three key dimensions: exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced professional efficacy.
Prevention and Management of Burn-out
Cardiac coherence and relaxation techniques to regulate stress responses.
Resilience training to increase coping capacity.
Clear boundaries between work and personal life.
Psychological support (therapy, coaching).
Organizational changes: fair workload, recognition, and respect.
Interestingly, the Enneagram personality model can also help individuals understand their psychological drivers and blind spots, offering strategies to avoid falling into burn-out patterns.
Conclusion
Burn-out is not a weakness—it is a warning signal that both the individual and the system need to change. Recognizing early symptoms, rebalancing work and life, and restoring meaning and values are essential to recovery.
With awareness, prevention, and adapted support, burn-out can become not only a challenge but also an opportunity for profound transformation.
Enneagram can be a good tool to manage better the burn-out
Leave a Reply