12 stages of burn-out. In an earlier post on burn-out (“The Route to Burn-out“) Serge Haubourdin refers to the 12 phases outlined by psychologists Herbert Freudenberger and Gail North in 1992. The 12 phases are more relevant than ever and are still a good indicator.
Are you in doubt and do you think you might be burnt out, have a look at these stages. The 12 stages of burn-out are not necessarily in the specific order and not every step occurs for every individual. Some phases are experienced at the same time.
More in detail:
- Compulsion to prove oneself, excessive ambition
- Working harder, taking on more work to realize ambition
- Neglecting personal needs, the self disappears for the company
- Displacement of conflicts, can’t see roots of problems, physical symptoms begin
- Revision of values, changed perceptions, emotions become blunted
- Denial of emerging problems, problems are caused be everything other than them
- Withdrawal, loss of hope or direction, seek release through alcohol and drugs
- Obvious behavioral changes, usually fearful, shy and apathetic, increasing feeling of worthlessness
- De-personalization, detached from the world and then divorced from themselves
- Inner Emptiness, leisure time becomes dead life time,
- Depression, indifferent, hopeless, apathetic, life loses meaning
- Burnout syndrome, suicidal thoughts become the release mechanism
When we push our productivity to its limits, we can easily find ourselves very close to burn-out. And there’s a thin line between being in the zone and falling down the slippery slope of mental, emotional and physical exhaustion. Therefore it’s worth occasionally referring back to this list to self-diagnose.
If you do find yourself in a burn-out, then it’s important to realize that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The holistic approach of Hercules Academy offers a way out and works on every aspect of your life. Contact us on info@hercules-academy.com and we will help you.