The Interpreter: Peter Falkai on “burnout”

Some technical terms have made it into everyday discourse. In this series, LMU researchers explain what these expressions mean and give a brief account of how they entered the vernacular.

Peter Falkai: “Inflation, underinvestment, international conflicts – there is no shortage of things going on in the world right now whose effects can cause us stress. The workplace is changing rapidly, and in the evening social media bombard our brains with all kinds of alarming information. Since the pandemic, we are keenly aware of the importance of staying resilient in stressful situations. But we do not always succeed. Usage of the term “burnout” has been rising for years, because it so accurately describes the feeling of never-ending overexertion.

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Stress responses in everyday life usually take the following path: Our cortisol levels rise, our pupils dilate, we sweat, and our bodies go into a state of high alert. When the trigger disappears, our blood pressure and cortisol levels fall again, our sweating stops, and we relax.

But if this pressure valve fails to open, our stress levels remain permanently high. We become restless, cannot sleep properly, and develop anxieties. If the stress does not subside, we feel completely exhausted after a while – as if burned out.

People with burnout syndrome are typically less resilient, develop a certain cynicism, and suffer from cognitive or physical ailments. However, burnout is not a separate medical diagnosis, but a description of a state. In medical terms, burnout is actually a form of depression or anxiety disorder, triggered or promoted by constant stress.

Are we collectively burning out?

Its severity is not easy to clinically differentiate. The duration and extent of symptoms are important for medical evaluation of the condition. If a student has worked intensely on a dissertation and feels burned out for a while afterward, this is ordinarily no cause for concern. Usually a week of rest and recuperation is enough to restore their energy. But if someone is unable to work for an extended time following a period of exertion, they formally meet the conditions for a diagnosis of depression – and should seek professional help. Around five to seven percent of the population have difficulty coping with chronic stress.

Burnout is therefore not a mass phenomenon. So why, we might ask, is the term so omnipresent? Someone who has burned out must have burned bright at one time, pushed themselves to the limit. People with depression or an anxiety disorder, by contrast, are seen as weak. That is the prejudice at least. So, burnout is more socially accepted than other mental illnesses. We should recognize our mental health as an important resource and act promptly when it is in danger – regardless of whether we ultimately call it “burnout” or by some other name.”

Prof. Dr. Peter Falkai heads the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at LMU University Hospital and is Chair Professor of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at LMU.

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