Although this increase is not very large, it is particularly worrying that the age category has shifted. Whereas it used to be the older generation that suffered from burnout, it is now mainly the 25- to 35-year-olds who suffer from it. Why is this? And do you get a burnout from sleeping badly or do you sleep badly because of a burnout?
WHAT IS A BURNOUT EXACTLY?
There are dozens of definitions of the term burnout, but we can generally say that it is a state of emotional exhaustion, characterized by cynicism and loss of confidence in one's own abilities.
In other words, chronic psychosocial stress has a negative effect on your brain and your physical abilities. No small moment of stress, no winter blues, but a condition that affects your health, a disease that has been studied since the 1970s.
INSOMNIA AND BURNOUT
Can insomnia cause burnout? That's still under investigation. A lot of studies have established that insomnia can cause burnout. After all, not sleeping, or sleeping too little, affects your state of mind and concentration, which can cause mental problems.
Some scientists are of the opinion that it is more of a vicious circle, that burnout and insomnia maintain each other as it were. Symptoms of burnout include continuous fatigue, difficulty falling asleep (due to too much agitation), not being able to sleep through or just sleeping a lot and still remaining tired. Your body and mind are just 'exhausted', in other words. Problems with sleep are at least part of it.
That's why most researchers conclude that insomnia is a symptom of a burnout, but not the result of a burnout. As yet, no proof of this can be found.
WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT?
Just like insomnia, burnout is a serious problem that exhausts you physically and mentally. A problem that you don't solve quickly. Be aware of that and take your time. If you have a burnout, your body needs more time to recover than normally.
If you need sleep during the day, allow yourself that. Suppose you have the flu or another virus, then it is normal to sleep more, isn't it? This is especially important in the first two weeks after you have been diagnosed with a burnout.
Are you having trouble falling asleep, is your burnout accompanied by insomnia? Then just try to rest often, take a break to calm down. There's no point in trying to wrestle through your daily busy schedule. You'll collapse again in no time. Please note: if you still don't notice any improvement after two weeks of sleeping a lot, it's best to consult your doctor again. Long periods of too much sleep are not good for your body either.