We asked about the burnout syndrome and how to overcome it to a specialist in a mental health clinic

Are you worried sick during the weekend about going to work on Monday? Do you feel restless to the point it deters you from doing daily routine work? If such symptoms persist, you can diagnose yourself to be going through ‘burnout syndrome’. In May, everyone wondered how the World Health Organization (WHO) could categorize burnout as a proper disease. In the end, it did not do so but categorized it as a career symptom, but it was a chance to see how much social interest there is about the matter. WHO defines burnout as a ‘syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.’ So how can we properly manage work stress? Can burnout syndrome be prevented or overcome?

Dr. Oh Jin-seong, who communicated with the public through his Youtube channel , says that burnout syndrome is a problem that can happen to any office worker, but it’s also a problem that can be overcome. We talked about office workers’ burnout syndrome and stress management.

Don’t overlook it saying ‘everyone has it rough’; get professional help

Q. Hello. Recently WHO categorized burnout syndrome not as a disease. Then can we say that burnout syndrome is not a serious psychiatric problem?

Not really. Burnout syndrome may not be an official disease, but with ongoing symptoms, it may lead to depression. There are many patients visiting me due to burnout syndrome, especially those in their 20s~30s who work in offices.

Q. So we can’t overlook it. How can one diagnose oneself with burnout syndrome?

There are many symptoms actually. You would feel depleted of energy, chronic fatigue, which are well-known symptoms. You could also suddenly make frequent work mistakes, forgetting something from time to time repeatedly too.
Symptoms that are easily overlooked are getting frustrated and short-tempered. Many thinks of them as just having a bad day.
There are physical symptoms, too: headaches, menstrual pain, and ongoing back and neck pains without any reason. Many office workers just push their mental stress down which often manifest into physical pain.

Burnout syndrome can happen to anyone working in the office

Q. But it’s confusing because those symptoms can be experienced by any office worker throughout their career. How can you differentiate feeling restless and having burnout syndrome?

That’s right. It can be difficult for an individual to differentiate the two. A somewhat valid standard would be how long the symptoms last. If it goes on for about a week or two, it could be restlessness. But if it goes on for more than 2 weeks, and you are affected after work and during weekends in your daily life, you should see if it is a serious case of burnout syndrome which can lead to depression.
Of course, anyone can think ‘I don’t want to go to work’, but if this thought keeps you up at night and deters you from eating, don’t just think that this is a problem everyone goes through. I recommend seeing a specialist.

Q. Then, what could we do to prevent burnout syndrome?

Preventing burnout syndrome would be the same as managing work stress. It’s impossible to be free of any stress at work.
What’s important is not dragging work stress all the way home. It’s like pushing the OFF button, distancing work from home. Active resting is required to do this.
Actively taking a break does not mean going anywhere or doing something. You don’t have to travel or workout, as if having a fancy hobby.

Q. Right. On SNS, everyone else if going somewhere, doing pilates or working out at the gym. It feels like I’m the only one lazily hanging around at home.

It’s natural to have those thoughts. But if you feel recharged by staying at home, you should keep doing that.
My hobby is taking a nap. For some people, it may seem lazy, but taking a nap for an hour or two on a Saturday afternoon makes me feel very refreshed. This is the kind of active rest for me.
Depending on what you like and how you are, playing games, reading comic books, eating tasty food could be the answer. Whatever that relieves your stress will do. As long as you don’t do too much of it, and your daily life or people around you don’t get affected negatively, anything that works will do.
It will definitely energize your whole life if not only your work life.

It’s good to find something you can do actively to overcome burnout syndrome

Q. Finding a hobby or a way to take break would be the answer then. What could someone already having burnout syndrome do?

It may sound like a typical answer, but in the end, professional help would be the best way to go. People still feel the barrier going through the psychiatrist’s door, but you don’t need to feel so much pressure, whether it’s emotional or price-wise. Don’t think about it too much, don’t worry on your own. Get help, it will be good.
With the premise of your symptoms not being too serious, I can recommend two things you can try in your everyday life.
First, when I see my patients, those who have less control in life suffer more. If you have to do passive work in the office, you may feel like just a part of a machine. But it’s true that not everyone can have a fulfilling, active role in the workplace.
So, it’s good to find something you can do actively outside your work. It could be a hobby, something to study, or Youtube, like me.
Secondly, the repeated schedule may be getting you down. It’s good to change something in your daily routine. You don’t have to take a big trip, but you can just drop by some place and meet a friend nearby after work, or make good use of the weekend and try learning something new.
I think we can say that creating small changes in your daily life and getting out of your repetitive life pattern does the trick.

Q. Then, what can we do if our colleague is suffering from burnout syndrome? Is there anything we can do to help?

Actually, this kind of thinking could be a little dangerous, because there are more things you shouldn’t do than you can do and more things you shouldn’t say than you should say. Even if they all come from good intentions, sometimes they make things worse.
Many people say things like ‘meet someone, fall in love’ as an advice, but office is a public place. Giving personal advice may make the other person uncomfortable.
And telling people who are already involuntarily tired and restless to try something new doesn’t help at all usually.
If you really want to help them, listen to them without judging, and let them know that they can count on you whenever, showing them support. There are definitely those who get better just by having someone listen to them and support them.

Q. These days, there are a lot of contents about quitting your job, like ‘quit your job and travel the world’. I think many office workers with burnout syndrome would contemplate quitting. Could that be a good solution?

Of course, as burnout syndrome clearly has a cause - ‘your work’, it’s natural to think about quitting. But we can’t say that it is the ultimate solution because in the end, we need to work to make ends meet.
And I also advise people not to make big decisions when you are mentally suffering and feel anxious. First thing to do is to recover from your issues, and then make your big decisions when you are well and comfortable. Decisions made when you are down and tired may not be the best decisions. You may just want to run away from it all and avoid reality, and thus make decisions which in long term may be regrettable.
If possible, make maximum use of vacation or leave of absence to get professional help. I recommend you to refrain from making big decisions like quitting your job or changing your job.

Leave your work stress in the office when you go home!

Q. I think all office workers will relate to that story. Lastly, is there something we can do in our daily lives for our mental health?

Mmm, I think it’s impossible to not get stressed at all. The least you can do then is to stay stress free outside working hours. You don’t need to stay unhappy after you’ve left your office. You make money to be happy, and it’s just not right to stay so miserable the whole time.
So actively seek out happiness outside the work. Sometimes such happy moments bring vitality to your work life. If you are getting stress at work, limit it to work only and spend quality time with good people after hours.

Photography by Jeon Seok-byung