Subtypes of Burnout and Specific Job-Related Signs
Less commonly spoken about, there are actually subtypes of burnout that tend to manifest in specific job-related situations. Teachers, hospital staff, and therapists or counselors tend to have their own specific kinds of burnout related to their jobs. Teachers can experience burnout due to being constantly assessed but with much of their success relying on the performance of others, in this case, the academic performance of their students. The work that hospital staff do, specifically nurses and doctors, is high pressure, high stakes, long hours, and in many cases, with people’s lives on the line. Therapists can often suffer from what’s called ‘compassion fatigue,’ caused by having to work with a high level of empathy at all times. With burnout affecting individuals in various professions, recognizing the unique signs based on specific job demands is crucial. Not only is it important for people in these professions to recognize it themselves, but also for coworkers and employers. Rather than criticizing, punishing, or putting more stress on these employees, they should instead be trying to work with that employee to help them overcome burnout so that they can be productive once again.