In persons "helping" professions (doctors, teachers, social workers, psychotherapists, etc.) workaholism can lead to the formation of burnout syndrome professional. This syndrome includes feelings of fatigue and devastation, lethargy, depression and lack of enthusiasm, loss of ability to see the positive results of their work, negative attitude to work and life in General. The level of labor morality and productivity decreases, people often change their place of work, start abusing tranquilizers, alcohol and drugs. He can develop psychosomatic disorders and depression.
The stages of development of burnout syndrome of professional:
Burnout syndrome develops after the initial stage of euphoria and enthusiasm, reminiscent of the honeymoon. At this stage, the professional is completely absorbed in solving problems, thinks and talks only about his Affairs, at work he does not have enough time to have a Cup of coffee or a snack, he enthusiastically works without holidays and weekends, sleeps little.
At the second stage, the professional periodically has a desire to impose his / her opinions, attitudes or values on the patient. Growing trend of manipulating the patient, the realization of the latent aggressive attitudes under the guise of "good intentions." He refuses to continue the discussion of the proposed topic, shows irritability and hostility during the conversation, seeks to complete it quickly. The professional increases fatigue, he smokes a lot or drinks coffee, periodically he has problems with sleep, his sense of humor deteriorates, especially in working situations.
The third stage is characterized by the development of chronic symptoms. There is a feeling of helplessness, exhaustion," zagnannosti", and sometimes – acute anger, emptiness and depression. There is a sense of failure, minor problems solved, there are doubts about the effectiveness of their work and their abilities. From a professional you can hear cynical remarks and jokes about his profession. There are thoughts about changing the profession and unwillingness to go to work. People shift their own difficulties to the problems of the patient and their negative emotions on others. There are tensions with colleagues. Professional more offended that he "must" that he just used, appreciated, but not going to love. From attempts to symbiotic neighborhood he crosses to formal, bureaucratic distance there is.
In the fourth stage, a crisis occurs – frequent health complaints: fatigue, irritability, muscle tension, poor sleep, indigestion, frequent colds. Psychosomatic disorders are developing, leading to temporary loss of working capacity. There are self-doubts, pessimism, because of excessive concern growing problems spoil relations in the family. The professional is fenced off from friends, rude, stale - "burn out". On the final, fifth stage evolves disease, threatening life and working capacity.
The development of the syndrome is usually caused by the following reasons: monotony and seeming ineffectiveness of work, a large personal contribution to work without obtaining recognition, insufficient motivation of clients and criticism of colleagues, a ban on creative search and self – expression, lack of opportunities for further training and professional growth, unresolved intra-and interpersonal conflicts of a professional.
Each psychologist and psychotherapist receives from his clients and patients negative feelings that can accumulate and be forced out, especially when banning their free expression, characteristic of persons helping professions (for example, Rogers noticed this feature in himself). Installation should distinguish not only neurotic, but often consultants and therapists. Own desires of the professional are suppressed, including one of the most important at such work – desire to be alone, alone.
Such personal qualities of the professional as introversion and tendency to be identified with others, altruism and sentimentality, anxiety and vulnerability, ambition and perfectionism, tendency to self-flagellation in case of defeat in combination with tendency to take a passive position at failure and to shift responsibility for it on others are important.
To normalize the state of the professional should ask the question: "Why do I work?"The list of reasons – both objective and subjective-will help to answer it. This list demonstrates the motivation, value and significance of the work. Then it is necessary to make a list under the title "I really want to do it." Need to transfer something like it to do, in decreasing order, and then to recall when I was able to do this one last time.
To prevent burnout, it is necessary to introduce diversity into your work, participate in the activities of the professional community, regularly meet with employees in an informal setting, spend more time with family and friends. It should be read not only special, but also fiction, more and more interesting to relax, find a hobby. It would be good to expand the range of interests and friends – preferably different professionally and personally. Psychotherapist, especially beginner, it is useful to participate in the Balint group, to improve their skills through various trainings. It is not necessary to strive for results that are unattainable with the currently available opportunities. We must be prepared for the inevitable failures, to evaluate themselves, without undue regard for others.
It is also important to maintain your health, keep regular sleeping and eating habits, exercise, quit Smoking, limit the consumption of coffee and alcoholic beverages, to master the technique of relaxation to increase self-esteem can be a useful training ' assertiveness. Finally, don't take yourself too seriously. Every day you can find an opportunity for some "stupidity" – pagamenti, miss bubbles, play hopscotch, etc.
