Burnout Symptoms: Signs to Recognize
Exhaustion, cynicism, reduced efficacy, poor sleep: burnout symptoms as described by the WHO and occupational health research, and when to talk to a doctor.
What is burnout?
Since 2019, the WHO International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) has described burnout as a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. The WHO lists it as an occupational phenomenon: it is not classified as a medical condition, and the definition refers specifically to the work context.
France’s occupational health institute (INRS) describes a set of reactions to chronic work stress, and the French National Authority for Health (HAS) an exhaustion that is physical, emotional, and mental.
The three dimensions of burnout
The WHO lists three dimensions, close to those described in Christina Maslach’s research:
- feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion;
- increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to it;
- reduced professional efficacy.
Common burnout symptoms
The HAS and INRS describe a range of signs. Not everyone experiences all of them:
- emotional: irritability, anxiety, sadness, feeling empty or powerless, loss of self-confidence;
- cognitive: trouble concentrating or remembering, indecision;
- behavioral: withdrawal, isolation, aggressiveness, impulsivity, substance use;
- motivational: disengagement, doubts about one’s abilities;
- physical: general fatigue, sleep problems, headaches or back pain, muscle tension, digestive problems.
Signs that build up gradually
According to the HAS, these symptoms develop gradually and vary in intensity. None of them is specific to burnout: fatigue or poor sleep can have many other causes. The INRS also lists work factors linked to burnout: heavy workload and time pressure, low control over one’s work, lack of support, unfairness, and job insecurity.
Burnout or depression: when to see a doctor
Burnout symptoms overlap with those of other conditions. The HAS asks doctors to look for depression, anxiety disorders, adjustment disorders, or physical illness, and to assess suicide risk. Only that assessment can tell burnout and depression apart.
If you are thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 in the United States, or call 911.
The free burnout test (Copenhagen Burnout Inventory) can help you describe your exhaustion before an appointment. It does not provide a diagnosis.
Sources and further reading
- WHO, 2019 — burn-out, an occupational phenomenon (ICD-11) — opens in a new tab
- Maslach and Leiter, 2016 — understanding the burnout experience — opens in a new tab
- HAS, 2017 — clinical identification and management of burnout (in French) — opens in a new tab
- INRS — occupational burnout (in French) — opens in a new tab
General information: this content does not provide a diagnosis or treatment recommendation.