‘Burnon’ X burnout: understand the term that explains when constant stress with work leads to depression | Health

Many people seem to be constantly electrified. They are passionate about their professions; Their cell phones are their constant companions and they can always be found, at night or on weekends.

They they like the workalthough your tasks continue accumulating more and more. On the one hand, the deadlines; on the other, the problems. This is all in addition to family, children and friends: they want to treat everyone the right way. Despite this frenetic pace, they still want to play sports and attend events.

But staying “lit” all the time can be dangerous. Constant stress, without real breaks, can make people sick. This chronic overload is described as a relatively new term: burnon.

The term burnon was created by psychologists Timo Schiele and Bert te Wildt, from the psychosomatic clinic in Kloster Dießen, near Munich, which offers treatment to patients with burnout syndrome.

Symptoms of burnout include exhaustion, reduced performance and cynicism – a mental distance from work.

In the case of burnon, the symptoms are different, explains Timo Schiele to DW. “On the contrary, those affected describe an overly close and enthusiastic connection with their work, sometimes more like overexcitement. This gave rise to the description of Burnon’s syndrome.”

Those affected have a passion for work, but constant stress generates constant tensions. Many initially suffer from neck and back pain, headaches and bruxism (teeth grinding).

The exhausting life on their hamster wheels drives them to despair. They lose hope of improving their conditions, they can no longer feel happy and they question the meaning of things.

“In addition to psychological comorbidities and secondary illnesses, such as depression, anxiety or addictions, we also believe that those affected may increasingly suffer from psychosomatic phenomena, such as high blood pressure, and their possible consequences”, says, Schiele. High blood pressure significantly increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Our daily lives are increasingly frantic. Professional success and social recognition are of central importance. Intense competition, economic crises and high prices can increase stress.

So far, there is more data on burnout. German health insurance company Provona has registered a 20% increase in cases in 2023compared to the previous year, with a fifth of workers fearing acquiring the syndrome.

Anyone who wants to not only complete multiple tasks in their hectic daily life, but also complete them in the best way possible, is especially prone to Burnon syndrome. “We believe that affected people have a high level of motivation to perform duties and feel bad about making mistakes or not doing things perfectly.”

According to Schiele, these people think they have a reduced capacity for action due to certain restrictions. “We often see people who impose too many restrictions on themselves, for example through perfectionism.”

To escape the hamster wheel and constant chronic tension, it is first necessary to recognize the problem, says the expert.

“The first step in treatment, as is often the case, is become aware of the problem. People with Burnon syndrome often appear to be functional, which is why we usually rely on reports from family members or people close to them. It’s also important to reflect on our own personal values.”

Particularly when people are passionate about their work, they tend to neglect their personal needs amid stressful everyday life.

“If this becomes a permanent condition, we become increasingly dissatisfied. So it’s important to stop and ask yourself: ‘How important to me are the things I fill my daily life with? Am I using my energy in the areas that are right for me?’ If the answer is no, it’s because it’s time to change something and try to see what small spaces we are able to create, internally and externally. This is often a big step,” says Schiele.

The type of relaxation that is good for each person depends on individual preferences. It could be walking, meditation or yoga. The key is to slow down your daily life and calm down.

It also makes sense to look for professional helpsuch as therapeutic or medical care.

The importance of naming the disease

Burnout has been considered a fashionable disease for some time now. To date, neither burnout nor burnon have been defined as autonomous mental illnesses, even though their serious health impacts are recognized.

Symptoms vary greatly, which makes it difficult to classify syndromes in a uniform manner, as in the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD), of the World Health Organization (WHO), which also lists mental problems.

Still, the existence of the term burnon is of utmost importance for those affected to describe their symptoms, says Schiele.

Finding oneself in a defined phenomenon is quite a relief for many of those affected, and a first step towards change. These people feel like they are no longer alone. They can gain hope by seeing that there are other people who also suffer from the same illness.

— Timo Schiele

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