MBI
Before I mentioned the MBI, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the most generally recognized instrument to measure the prevalence of a state of burnout. Basically it is a list of not even 30 questions that point out three subjects or dimensions, together making up the burnout-syndrome.
Emotional exhaustion
This concerns the feeling of being completely empty because of working with others. Where we already saw that burnout is originally described as being related to the care-taking professions, this is still the most reputed part of being burnout.
Depersonalisation
You have developed a cynical and distant attitude towards the people you work for and with. Your belief in the other has gone out of the window and you don't expect it to come back soon.
Decreasing personal competency
You doubt your own competencies, you think you lost all of your original skills and you doubt if you can still face your patients etc. properly.
Engagement and more
Now the remarkable thing in this summing-up is that there is no more mention of engagement while originally that looked like the defining concept in the whole story. An overflow of engagement is considered the regular first cause of becoming burnout. Now this is mainly stuff for those scientific researchers who cook up all these psychological instruments in the first place, I won't go into further details here. It is also worth noting that the MBI is regarded as the best instrument but still these days there are researchers who point out that the essence of burnout is the particular combination of exhaustion and emotional distancing. Burnout so would not be composed of three, but only of two parts or dimensions. The essence of burnout then would be a lack of power to act, combined with a lack of motivation. We would be thinking then of an energetic and a motivational aspect, basically simplifying the idea of treatment.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Engagement, curse or blessing?
Emotionally demanding work
A well-known factor in the building-up towards a burnout. Some professions, like teaching or nursing, apparently demand a more than average engagement with the pupils, patients etc. But we can also postulate that those professions even provoke that engagement. Within the occupational group the story goes that without just that engagement you can never qualify as a "good" teacher, nurse etc. The social perspectives under which you function then are very present, very implicit, very un-outspoken and even dressed up with a certain morality. Young professionals will easily follow this implicit ideal. When you are young, you can live up to it for some time. But, just face it: giving, giving, giving without ever getting something back, how do you make it?
The so-called professional attitude
So you can get stuck in your work. To make matters worse, the last 10 or 20 years we are bullshitted into believing that we should behave like a "real" professional. Now this "real" professional is just as fake as the mandatory engagement that you have to show on order. The implicit assumption behind this professional is that you are able to completely exhaust yourself day in day out for your pupils, patients etc. After preferably putting in some overtime you close the door behind you and are able to throw away all your worries, mixed emotions and concerns instantly.
Dilemmas
Unfortunately, there is no school or education in this world that teaches us how to do it, this closing off your emotions at will. So if you keep on doing what you always did, without ever getting aware of those implicit paradoxes, you can easily get burnout, simply because you can't distinguish a way out.
How do we solve this riddle?
What of course should happen is that you get aware of the position you are in. If you can tell yourself that you are guided by implicit and unlabeled assumptions, instead of the clauses from your labor-contract, you have already come a long way. You will probably not be able to do this on your own, it needs a lot of talking to your colleagues going through the same processes. It is also the moment that some counseling could be of help. It is by now a well-known fact that it is quite difficult to learn to perceive those implicit laws and to understand how far-reaching these influences can be.
A well-known factor in the building-up towards a burnout. Some professions, like teaching or nursing, apparently demand a more than average engagement with the pupils, patients etc. But we can also postulate that those professions even provoke that engagement. Within the occupational group the story goes that without just that engagement you can never qualify as a "good" teacher, nurse etc. The social perspectives under which you function then are very present, very implicit, very un-outspoken and even dressed up with a certain morality. Young professionals will easily follow this implicit ideal. When you are young, you can live up to it for some time. But, just face it: giving, giving, giving without ever getting something back, how do you make it?
The so-called professional attitude
So you can get stuck in your work. To make matters worse, the last 10 or 20 years we are bullshitted into believing that we should behave like a "real" professional. Now this "real" professional is just as fake as the mandatory engagement that you have to show on order. The implicit assumption behind this professional is that you are able to completely exhaust yourself day in day out for your pupils, patients etc. After preferably putting in some overtime you close the door behind you and are able to throw away all your worries, mixed emotions and concerns instantly.
Dilemmas
Unfortunately, there is no school or education in this world that teaches us how to do it, this closing off your emotions at will. So if you keep on doing what you always did, without ever getting aware of those implicit paradoxes, you can easily get burnout, simply because you can't distinguish a way out.
How do we solve this riddle?
What of course should happen is that you get aware of the position you are in. If you can tell yourself that you are guided by implicit and unlabeled assumptions, instead of the clauses from your labor-contract, you have already come a long way. You will probably not be able to do this on your own, it needs a lot of talking to your colleagues going through the same processes. It is also the moment that some counseling could be of help. It is by now a well-known fact that it is quite difficult to learn to perceive those implicit laws and to understand how far-reaching these influences can be.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
A little bit of history
A young syndrome
The burnout syndrome is quite young for a recognised psychic disease and as yet doesn’t even figure in the DSM-IV, the most official catalogue of mental illness worldwide. Before World War 2 it is not mentioned at all. Then all of a sudden Graham Greene publishes his novel “A Burnt Out Case”, featuring a main character who is completely disillusioned and cynical and ties up his western existence by going into a self-chosen exile.
Freudenberger
In 1969 Freudenberger, a New York psychologist, first tosses the term burnout. He goes on to describe how social workers in the drug-scene deteriorate in no-time from idealist to distant and cynical officials. More than average these officials were plagued by all kinds of minor complaints: headaches, infections, ulcers, sleep disturbances etc. Worth noting is that when he first used the phrase burnout, he got an immediate and strong response. The word was easily recognised for the mental state it described. Freudenberger himself went on to describe a great many cases, always emphasizing here were always strongly committed individuals who had given the best of themselves to their demanding job. Getting a burnout meant at least that you had done your very best and so could even be used as a kind of excuse.
Maslach
Another famous name in the research Christina Maslach, an american psychologist who has devoted much work to measuring and gaining deeper insight the burnout phenomenon. To attain this she developed the Maslach Burnout Inventory, a questionnaire that international now is considered the leading instrument.
The burnout syndrome is quite young for a recognised psychic disease and as yet doesn’t even figure in the DSM-IV, the most official catalogue of mental illness worldwide. Before World War 2 it is not mentioned at all. Then all of a sudden Graham Greene publishes his novel “A Burnt Out Case”, featuring a main character who is completely disillusioned and cynical and ties up his western existence by going into a self-chosen exile.
Freudenberger
In 1969 Freudenberger, a New York psychologist, first tosses the term burnout. He goes on to describe how social workers in the drug-scene deteriorate in no-time from idealist to distant and cynical officials. More than average these officials were plagued by all kinds of minor complaints: headaches, infections, ulcers, sleep disturbances etc. Worth noting is that when he first used the phrase burnout, he got an immediate and strong response. The word was easily recognised for the mental state it described. Freudenberger himself went on to describe a great many cases, always emphasizing here were always strongly committed individuals who had given the best of themselves to their demanding job. Getting a burnout meant at least that you had done your very best and so could even be used as a kind of excuse.
Maslach
Another famous name in the research Christina Maslach, an american psychologist who has devoted much work to measuring and gaining deeper insight the burnout phenomenon. To attain this she developed the Maslach Burnout Inventory, a questionnaire that international now is considered the leading instrument.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Learned helplessness
Animal experiments
In the 70’s, when the idea of burnout first was described, there was an american psychologist, Seligman, who did some experiments with animals, that would be strongly condemned today from an ethical viewpoint. The results did contribute in time a lot to the theory building about the possible cognitive background of burnout. In summary, those experiments went like this:
Learned helplessness
Dogs were locked in a cage and were exposed, in an unpredictable rhytm, to mild electric shocks. Of course they tried escaping frantically but as soon as they learnt the inescapable nature of their situation, their behavior adapted to it. They got apathic, laid themselves on the ground and started moaning. They deteriorated to a condition that we could call acquiescing, apathic, hopeless or even depressive. In a later stage, they did get options to escape by simply jumping a fence, which they never did anymore. Apparently they had learned very thoroughly that, whatever they did, it wouldn’t be of any use. Seligman called this condition “learned helplessness.
Optimistic dogs
Another group of dogs had also been exposed to the shock treatment but had the escaping option right from the beginning. Now these dogs managed to find escapes, all the time they received shocks. Apparently they had learned that initiatives will be rewarded and kept up, so to say, an optimistic attitude.
A clear parallel with burnout
The parallel with becoming burnout won’t escape you. People can, especially in their professional lives, live through a number of situations in which they find, however hard they try, that they cannot improve their situation. Depending on their fixed income they think that they are completely running out of options to organise things differently
In the 70’s, when the idea of burnout first was described, there was an american psychologist, Seligman, who did some experiments with animals, that would be strongly condemned today from an ethical viewpoint. The results did contribute in time a lot to the theory building about the possible cognitive background of burnout. In summary, those experiments went like this:
Learned helplessness
Dogs were locked in a cage and were exposed, in an unpredictable rhytm, to mild electric shocks. Of course they tried escaping frantically but as soon as they learnt the inescapable nature of their situation, their behavior adapted to it. They got apathic, laid themselves on the ground and started moaning. They deteriorated to a condition that we could call acquiescing, apathic, hopeless or even depressive. In a later stage, they did get options to escape by simply jumping a fence, which they never did anymore. Apparently they had learned very thoroughly that, whatever they did, it wouldn’t be of any use. Seligman called this condition “learned helplessness.
Optimistic dogs
Another group of dogs had also been exposed to the shock treatment but had the escaping option right from the beginning. Now these dogs managed to find escapes, all the time they received shocks. Apparently they had learned that initiatives will be rewarded and kept up, so to say, an optimistic attitude.
A clear parallel with burnout
The parallel with becoming burnout won’t escape you. People can, especially in their professional lives, live through a number of situations in which they find, however hard they try, that they cannot improve their situation. Depending on their fixed income they think that they are completely running out of options to organise things differently
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Personality?
Insight and evidence is growing that certain personality-traits somehow come together with a heightened risk for burnout.
Perfectionism
is one of them. Just imagine that you think of yourself that you have to be perfect in all your acts and performances for some 110%. Then live up to it. Relalize what is happening to you. Your free time will decline and you will be often disappointed in yourself. Chances are that no-one around you will notice your intentions and efforts. Then imagine that you handle your business like that for twenty years on end. Realize the energy it took from you and think what is has brought back to you (probably hardly anything). Do you feel exhaustion coming up? When in my consulting-room I push this subject a bit further, it often appears there is a different motivation behind it all. Those perfectionists often are very sensitive to
Social perspectives.
Expensive word? Oh yes. I usually explain it by asking: "Would you often look at youtself through the eyes of another?" Or, are you continuously thinking: "What would such and such say of me now?" If indeed that gives a strong motive for your acts, if really your behavior is steered by such considerations, then of course chances are that you go against your own ideas. Chances are also that you are spending your energy not too well. Not to worry for the single occasion, we all do it sometimes. If this however comes down to a lifelong exhausting pattern of behavior, of course it can cost you dearly in the end.
Perfectionism
is one of them. Just imagine that you think of yourself that you have to be perfect in all your acts and performances for some 110%. Then live up to it. Relalize what is happening to you. Your free time will decline and you will be often disappointed in yourself. Chances are that no-one around you will notice your intentions and efforts. Then imagine that you handle your business like that for twenty years on end. Realize the energy it took from you and think what is has brought back to you (probably hardly anything). Do you feel exhaustion coming up? When in my consulting-room I push this subject a bit further, it often appears there is a different motivation behind it all. Those perfectionists often are very sensitive to
Social perspectives.
Expensive word? Oh yes. I usually explain it by asking: "Would you often look at youtself through the eyes of another?" Or, are you continuously thinking: "What would such and such say of me now?" If indeed that gives a strong motive for your acts, if really your behavior is steered by such considerations, then of course chances are that you go against your own ideas. Chances are also that you are spending your energy not too well. Not to worry for the single occasion, we all do it sometimes. If this however comes down to a lifelong exhausting pattern of behavior, of course it can cost you dearly in the end.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Recognize your burnout!
Of course it helps if you can spot for yourself that you're heading downwards in a way that can eventually lead to a complete burnout. In this process you can go through seven several stages, starting from slight excitement to total desperation. To get a better view, here they come:
1) Symptoms of warning. You couple a great feeling of engagement in your work with the idea that time and again you're not finishing your things proper. You start to notice that you are losing energy or constantly lack sleep.
2) Diminishing engagement, withdrawal. You are getting cynical and less positive, a certain reluctancy creeps in. Your coffeebreaks are getting longer, you start to treasure your weekends ever better. Your idealism is declining.
3) Emotional reactions, others are to blame. Depressive symptoms appear: you lose your sense of humor and pity yourself and you have moodswings. You can get agressive outbursts, others get the blame easily, conflicts prevail.
4) Weakening. Concentration and memory diminish, you lose initiative and creativity and your perceptions get ever more one-sided.
5) Waning. You get ever more indifferent and you avoid social contacts. You give up your hobbies.
6) Psychosomatic reactions. Sleepdisturbances, tense muscles, head- and backaches, nausea, problems with heart or intestines, impotency, more coffee, alcohol, tobacco or drugs etc. etc.
7) Desperation. A completely negative view on life, strong feelings of hopelessness and senselessness, thoughts of suicide.
The message will be clear: don't let it come this far. From experience I found that people either react rather early in the process (stage 1/3) or far too late (stage 6 has commenced). Do you recognize with your self that you may be are living through such a process, don't hesitate and consult your doctor or a social worker.
1) Symptoms of warning. You couple a great feeling of engagement in your work with the idea that time and again you're not finishing your things proper. You start to notice that you are losing energy or constantly lack sleep.
2) Diminishing engagement, withdrawal. You are getting cynical and less positive, a certain reluctancy creeps in. Your coffeebreaks are getting longer, you start to treasure your weekends ever better. Your idealism is declining.
3) Emotional reactions, others are to blame. Depressive symptoms appear: you lose your sense of humor and pity yourself and you have moodswings. You can get agressive outbursts, others get the blame easily, conflicts prevail.
4) Weakening. Concentration and memory diminish, you lose initiative and creativity and your perceptions get ever more one-sided.
5) Waning. You get ever more indifferent and you avoid social contacts. You give up your hobbies.
6) Psychosomatic reactions. Sleepdisturbances, tense muscles, head- and backaches, nausea, problems with heart or intestines, impotency, more coffee, alcohol, tobacco or drugs etc. etc.
7) Desperation. A completely negative view on life, strong feelings of hopelessness and senselessness, thoughts of suicide.
The message will be clear: don't let it come this far. From experience I found that people either react rather early in the process (stage 1/3) or far too late (stage 6 has commenced). Do you recognize with your self that you may be are living through such a process, don't hesitate and consult your doctor or a social worker.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Keep in touch with the boss!
There you are, sitting at home, feeling bad as you never felt bad before. You feel downright shitty and thinking of your job is just repulsive. Then, next thing you know, you are talking to your medical doctor and he will simply advise you to just pop-in with the company for a small chat and a cup of coffee. You don't even think about it and turn the advice down. A couple of days later, your chief gives you a call and basically repeats the same invitation. Having heard this advice twice you reconsider. Later on in the week you get in the car, drive down your familiar road and find it amazingly empty, outside the rush-hour. You go in and ... well, it doesn't get so bad, though you are happy to leave the building after half an hour, some small talk and two coffees.
Has this recently happened to you? If so, then this is all part of a modern strategy to keep burnout-patients more involved with the job. Evidence is showing that staying somewhat loosely connected with the job during your recoveryproces makes it easier to comeback. The aversive emotional over-reaction that can form itself so easily if you withhold yourself from your working-spot for a longer period time is so easily to avoid.
Has this recently happened to you? If so, then this is all part of a modern strategy to keep burnout-patients more involved with the job. Evidence is showing that staying somewhat loosely connected with the job during your recoveryproces makes it easier to comeback. The aversive emotional over-reaction that can form itself so easily if you withhold yourself from your working-spot for a longer period time is so easily to avoid.
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