Actually BURN OUT was coined in the year 1974 do to describe the consequences of severe stress but the importance of this syndrome is more evident of late more so during the catastrophic Covid 19 pandemic In one recent survey BURN OUT was cited as the main reason for large numbers of people TO QUIT their jobs to quit their jobs in 2021. Burn out is not a sudden onset tissue that progresses through various series of stages if STRESS REASONS are not handled adequately. This syndrome can affect anyone at any point of time in their lives. It is said that average professional experiences this phenomena at the age of 32
We may also note that the symptoms of burn out change from person to person and time to time.
The five stages describe in the Evolution of this condition are:
1. honeymoon phase
2. Early stress phase
3. Chronic stress stage
4. Established burnout
5. Habitual burnout
The usual symptoms or feeling of fatigue exhaustion, lack of interest in job, feeling of negativism related to job, more irritable, less hopeful and less motivated. Latest neurological research revealed two major changes take place in brain Due to BURN OUT. prefrontal cortex of brain shows thinning of its grey matter resulting in attention deficits Poor memory retention repeated mistakes and poor learning abilities. Conversely there is enlargement of amygdala theAllmond shaped Centre in temporal loberesponsible for fight or flight response when in danger. So there is a disproportionate changes brain — prefrontal cortex becomes weak and amygdala becomes stronger resulting in seeing the world around as HARMFUL WHEN IT IS NOT SO IN FACT..
WHO ARE PRONE TO BURN OUT::
Professionals like surgeons nurses, fast food delivery workers, air traffic controllers, firefighters and latest software professionals.
In the Doctors category emergency medicine specialist constitute 65% burn out cardiology 43% interestingly neurosurgery has only 21% .Neurosurgery career satisfaction is a staggering 78% because they work in well-known hospitals use latest technologies like RADIOSURGERY,DBS,NEURONAVIGATION, CUSA and microscope.
Others are people were who are perfectionists, women and workers under 30 years of age, people who don’t exercise, obese, and heavy alcoholic‘s and people living alone without any friends.
CAN BURNOUT BE REVERSED:: YES THEY CAN BE
once the stress ful events are under control, By taking adequate REST,taking regular AFTERNOON NAPS, taking day ioffs as permitted having good 7-8 hours SLEEP &taking healthy FOOD LESS IN SUGARS.
MOONLIGHTING::
Of late moonlighting the practice of working on a second job outside of regular work hours for extra income has become popular. It is a growing phenomenamong the new generation professionals impacting their health.
Interestingly this moonlighting Is A modified version of the original burnout and it may seem like a fast solution for financial issues but it is ultimately hazardous to both health and carrier as it impacts their productivity with no work life balance leading to increased errors, serious health problems like heart disease, hypertension and depression. It is recorded in IT professionals that doing more than one job working for more than 60 hours per week as well as working late in the night is very dangerous. So it is advised that before opting for moonlighting one has to carefully Weigh the potential benefits and risks associated. Feeling of negativism related to job, more irritable, less hopeful and less motivated.
Latest neurological research revealed two major changes take place in brain Due to BURN OUT. prefrontal cortex of brain shows thinning of its grey matter resulting in attention deficits Poor memory retention repeated mistakes and poor learning abilities. Conversely there is enlargement of amygdala theAllmond shaped Centre in temporal loberesponsible for fight or flight response when in danger. So there is a disproportionate changes brain — prefrontal cortex becomes weak and amygdala becomes stronger resulting in seeing the world around as HARMFUL WHEN IT IS NOT SO IN FACT.
The article is authored by Dr. P. Ranganadham, Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon
SLG Hospitals, Bachupally.
