The syndrome of burnout or professional exhaustion has become a recurring topic in recent years. However, it is crucial to differentiate it from a mental disorder. Álex Bilbao Idarraga, a psychiatrist at Quirónsalud Vitoria, explained in an interview on COPE Euskadi that the WHO itself classifies it as an "occupational phenomenon," not a mental illness. According to the expert, it is based on three pillars: detachment, exhaustion, and a sense of ineffectiveness at work.
There are warning signs indicating that work stress may have evolved into a pathology. According to Bilbao Idarraga, a key indicator is the persistence of symptoms outside the work environment. "That the weekend is not restorative, or even that a vacation does not allow you to disconnect," are clear indicators. Added to this are the appearance of profound sadness, anxious symptoms such as fear of going to work, or, in more severe cases, substance use to cope with or forget the workday.
The impact of professional exhaustion is not immediate but manifests "gradually, somewhat erosively," according to the psychiatrist. The main sign that the problem has acquired a clinical dimension is the loss of functionality in all areas of life. "When you get home and you're still thinking about work, you're not where you should be, you don't enjoy your family, you don't enjoy your life, you stop doing the things you used to do," the doctor details.
“"It's not weak people, no. Rather, it's usually people in positions of responsibility, important individuals who reach a point where they can't take it anymore."
Contrary to what one might think, those who suffer from burnout are not weak individuals. Bilbao Idarraga debunks this cliché: "It's not weak people, no. Rather, it's usually people in positions of responsibility, important individuals who reach a point where they can't take it anymore." The expert points out that it is a combination of demanding jobs, long hours, little recognition, and unfavorable work environments, filtered by each person's situation and vulnerability.
On a cerebral level, sustained work stress causes a "dysregulation of systems," the psychiatrist explains. The primitive defense and flight system becomes overactive, generating anxiety, while the more advanced systems responsible for planning and control "are more subdued," affecting the ability to manage emotions and daily tasks.
The doctor insists that, although not all work-related distress should be considered a pathology, professional assessment is crucial. Seeking help "is not exaggerating, nor is it being unable to handle pressure," he states. The psychiatrist encourages viewing mental health like any other area of health: "If we have a gastric upset, we go to the doctor to ask. And if we have a mental upset, we should go to the doctor to ask just the same."
Finally, the specialist sends a reassuring message to those who hesitate to take the step. "Going to the doctor to ask does not imply psychiatric treatment, it does not imply psychological treatment, it does not imply medication; it implies an evaluation and a response to those symptoms." Sometimes, he concludes, the answer may simply be that what the patient is experiencing "is normal and that's it," which is liberating for both the professional and the affected person.
