Clinical Psychologist Assist. Prof. Dr. Billur Örnek highlighted that the key to treating burnout syndrome lies in being seen and heard. She stressed that individuals must first recognize these needs and take action..
In recent years, burnout syndrome has become a common issue, often stemming from unchangeable circumstances and a lack of self-awareness, leading individuals to endure it for extended periods. Experts emphasize that the key to resolving burnout syndrome lies in being "seen" and "heard."
Assist. Prof. Dr. Billur Örnek, Head of the Psychology Department at Yeditepe University and a Clinical Psychologist, provided insights into burnout syndrome. She noted that feelings of hopelessness and depressive features can be present in burnout syndrome. "Burnout syndrome occurs when an individual is exposed to intense, demanding, and challenging conditions for an extended period and can no longer cope with them using their own resources. This leads to fatigue, low energy, lack of enthusiasm, and weariness. In such situations, motivation and energy related to the tasks at hand decrease, resulting in reduced productivity."
More Common Among Those Who Work Directly with People
Assist. Prof. Dr. Billur Örnek explained that the prevalence of burnout syndrome is more commonly studied in populations working under specific conditions or dealing with challenging jobs, rather than in the general population. "For example, healthcare workers and educators are often the focus of burnout research. The most notable factor here is that these individuals work directly with people and in service sectors. Thus, we can say that burnout is more prevalent among those who work directly with people. Some studies report burnout rates of over 60% among healthcare workers. These rates increase even more during extraordinary situations like pandemics and disasters because the demand becomes abnormal."
Workload High, Rewards Low
Assist. Prof. Dr. Örnek described burnout as a feeling of exhaustion that occurs under highly intense and demanding conditions, especially when individuals are not adequately supported or do not feel recognized and rewarded for their efforts. Örnek further elaborated: "Not being supported by colleagues and supervisors, facing emotionally challenging conditions, feeling undervalued, and not feeling safe are the most significant factors leading to motivation loss and burnout."”
In Every Aspect of Life
"Although burnout is often defined in the workplace context, it appears in every aspect of life," continued Örnek. "A homemaker or a student who has never been in a work environment can also experience burnout. The root cause is the lack of meaningful rewards in response to the responsibilities they take on. Whether at work, at home, or at school, people undertake tasks with a certain motivation. If the rewards—such as earning money, achieving success, gaining respect, or receiving appreciation—fall short compared to the demands faced, individuals begin to feel indifferent towards the responsibilities they once eagerly accepted and lose their sense of fulfillment in meaningful work. If possible, they may choose to disengage from these tasks, but often, in both work and home environments, they are forced to continue with the same tasks even when they no longer find them meaningful."
Efforts Go Unrecognized
Assist. Prof. Dr. Billur Örnek provided examples to illustrate situations where individuals are likely to experience burnout syndrome: "Imagine a scenario where fewer employees are working than necessary, so one employee ends up doing the work of three people. Despite this, their effort goes unnoticed, as if they are merely doing what is expected of them. Even if this person earns an adequate salary overall, they are likely to question the value of their work. Similarly, think of a woman who cleans and tidies the house all day, ensuring a healthy environment for her family, yet her efforts are never acknowledged as valuable. On top of this, the house is thoughtlessly messed up and dirtied again. In both examples, the individuals work hard to maintain order and fulfill their responsibilities, but their efforts go unrecognized and unrewarded. As a result, they begin to question the meaningfulness of their work."
Leads to Depression
Assist. Prof. Dr. Billur Örnek emphasized that individuals experiencing burnout syndrome can show depressive symptoms: "Lack of motivation, low energy, physical aches not directly caused by physical conditions but linked to emotional reasons (such as headaches and digestive issues), hopelessness due to a sense of meaninglessness, an inability to take pleasure in anything, and general depressive states can emerge. Symptoms can also include changes in appetite and sleep, anxiety disorders, and a constant state of worry. Burnout is not classified as a mental disorder in our diagnostic systems, but it creates conditions that make individuals susceptible to anxiety disorders, psychosomatic disorders, and depression."
Being Seen and Heard is Key in Treatment
Assist. Prof. Dr. Örnek underlined that the first step in treatment is for individuals to recognize their need for acknowledgment and motivation. She offered the following suggestions: "The unmet needs vary depending on the environment where burnout is experienced. In a work environment, if pressure is replaced by support, the individual feels secure, earns enough to live under humane conditions, and feels acknowledged and appreciated for their efforts, the likelihood of experiencing burnout decreases. The most crucial point here is 'being seen and heard.' Burnout often arises in situations where efforts go unnoticed and undervalued. Therefore, individuals must be aware of their need for recognition and motivation. If they are confused about the meaningfulness of their current responsibilities, it is time to understand what they need and what is missing and to change the course of action. Our emotions serve as valuable alarm mechanisms when we listen to them properly. Feelings of fatigue, reluctance, Lack of motivation, and a sense of meaninglessness are definite signals that something is wrong. Recognizing one's needs and expressing them is a major focus in our psychotherapies."