Into Burnout – and the Way Back

The various descriptions of burnout suggest a number of different aspects that lead to burnout, or give warning signs that burnout is beginning.

Maslach[1] suggests that emotional exhaustion is the first aspect in burnout which arises where an individual has, over a period of time, given emotionally of themselves to others to the point where they can no longer do so.

Her second aspect is that of depersonalisation where cynicism begins to occur, or the people that the individual is dealing with are dehumanised and the individual begins to withdraw from meaningful engagement with those in their care.

The third aspect is that of a reduced personal accomplishment. This may stem from awareness that the task is never completed, the job never done, and the enormity of the task.

Dr Arch Hart[2] symptoms for burnout are demoralisation, depersonalisation, detachment, distancing and defeatism which may be more helpful for some to understand in their situation.

The warning signs come in the form of a general lack of energy, a sense of helplessness, a sense that things are not as rewarding as they once were as well as becoming cynical or negative about other people.

Appendix 3 includes a self diagnostic tool by Freudenberger and Richelson to help answer the question “Are you burning out?”

The first step to recovery from this syndrome is to acknowledge its existence and to make the changes necessary to regain balance and to have sufficient recovery time in our diaries.

An important step down that path is to acknowledge that although we are called to ministry we are not called to work harder than the Creator – so instituting a personal Sabbath may be an effective starting point.

The Sabbath is instituted in Genesis, but Jesus reminds us by his actions throughout the Gospels to take time away from the throng. After the feeding of the five thousand as told in Mark’s gospel we read:

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."

So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.[3]

Charles Spurgeon wrote:

“Repose is as needful to the mind as sleep to the body…. Rest time is not waste time. It is economy to gather fresh strength[4]”

Relaxation and exercise are helpful, and are essential to enable balance in life and work to be regained.

Often recovery may involve a change in the way of thinking of an individual – a cognitive restructuring. This involves learning to understand why we think what we are thinking, and why we respond as we do. In “Clergy Burnout”[5] Lehr suggests one step is to learn to empower ourselves, and not to let others take control of our own selves.

“Recovery from burnout is possible, but it may require changes and take time, so don’t expect a quick fix”[6]