Burn-out is a well know condition emerging in work environment. Although it is not recognized as a specific mental disorder in the current medical system, it has a lot of accumulating evidence.

Burn-out cannot be diagnosed in isolation of work stress exposure; in addition to that, it has certain symptoms and signs, which we will try to approach in a simple nontechnical way.

Exhausted

The first salient feature of burn-out is that you feel too exhausted. You are so tired even to move a muscle? You drag yourself heavily out of bed in the morning? Your eight-hour work-time feel like 80? In burnout you are exhausted both emotionally and physically.

Cynical

The second thing that characterizes burnout is cynicism. Cynicism is a lack of interest in work that can be negative ,resentful or even callous.You may find yourself critical of your work all the time.

Cynicism is usually preceded by exhaustion.

Incompetent

The third burnout feature is a sense of incompetence, you feel you cannot do it. There is a lack of sense accomplishment and productivity. Sometimes, all three burnout pillars are in interplay to produce theses symptoms, at other times, exhaustion and cynicism can produce the sense of reduced accomplishment and productivity.

Feeling Depressed

Although depression is a whole-life issue while burnout is confined to the job environment, but burnout is connected to depression. According to research, people who are prone to depression are more vulnerable to develop burnout.

Hate Your Work

Burnout results in job dissatisfaction, increased absenteeism and many other somatic complaints.

Outright Anger

Burnout can lead to anger and outrage episodes. You may get irritable with your coworkers, colleagues, or even worse, your clients and customers. If you get easily angry, then it is time to stop and ask : is my job burning me out?

Wandering Mind

Difficulty concentrating and inability to focus is one of the early signs that can tell of an approaching burnout.

Difficulty Sleeping

Although the evidence is contradictory, but some studies link difficulty falling asleep and difficulty staying asleep to burnout. Anyway, don’t mess up with sleep problems.Lack of enough sleep, can bring higher likelihoods of cardiac problems, hypertension, strokes, and diabetes mellitus.

Headache

Although, just like sleep problems, it is not scientifically settled, some authors link burnout to chronic daily headache; particularly new quality headache you are not used to before.

Pain in The Gut

Burnout and the associated stress with it can weaken the immune system and cause pain in the stomach and bowel.

Addictive Habits

People resort to many things to soothe themselves out. They may eat, drink, take drugs. This is serious since it can result in obesity, alcohol problems, and drug misuse.

Blood Pressure

Burnout and chronic stress can give you a rising blood pressure and a fast heart rate. Both are not good for the heart, brain and kidneys.

Blood Sugar

Burnout is linked to increased chances of diabetes.

Absenteeism

Both absenteeism and presenteeism (coming to work even when one is sick) are common in burnout as found by research. Both states can pile up and lead to more burnout effects.