Burnout occurs over time, and as opposed to compassion fatigue, it is not trauma focused. It is exhaustion that is felt emotionally, mentally, and physically, when a person experiences low job satisfaction, powerlessness, and high stress levels at work. Burnout is the result of prolonged stress and the inability to meet constant demands.
When one feels overwhelmed and it does not seem possible to meet these ongoing demands, stress increases. The result is that the person feels that problems cannot be solved, and there is a strong sense of unhappiness. A loss of interest in work and decreased productivity occurs, which makes one feel even more hopeless and cynical about the work environment. These factors can affect work, relationships, as well as physical health.
Feeling like every day is bad, not caring as much about work or personal life, feeling exhausted all of the time, feeling disconnected, or feeling unappreciated or unnoticed, can all be symptoms of burnout. The causes of job burnout can include a lack of control over the job, not understanding expectations, having different values from the business, poor job fit, or poor fit with colleagues.
Assessing priorities, focusing on self-care, setting boundaries, and managing stress levels can help relieve burnout.