Burnout: Can the Breaking Point Become a Turning Point?

True burnout can feel like the turning point to a breakdown. But if recognised and addressed effectively, burnout can be the catalyst for a breakthrough and a pathway to healing.

During a recent dinner, I overheard a conversation between a group of mid-life professionals: "I'm so burned out," "I quit my job because of burnout," "I feel like if I don't do something drastic, I'll be too burnt out to continue working."

This wasn't just one working professional feeling like their work-life balance scored zero; the entire group was throwing around the word burnout and how it was negatively impacting their lives.

From quitting their jobs, taking a mental health leave, or opting for extended travel rather than returning to work, these mid-level professionals had reached a critical tipping point.

What is Burnout?

American psychologist Herbert Freudenberger first identified burnout "syndrome" in the 1970s and applied it to describe the feelings that doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals experienced due to their tireless and heavy workloads. The term "burned out" later evolved to include any working professional experiencing exhaustion and an inability to cope with normal, everyday tasks.

While the word 'burnout' seems to be thrown out casually these days, true burnout is much more than just feeling fatigued or stressed. Burnout is classified as a state of mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion that manifests when our internal resources are being exhausted faster than we can replenish them.

While burnout isn't a clinical diagnosis, in 2019 theWorld Health Organization (WHO) recognised it as an "occupational phenomenon" caused by "chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed".

The Five Stages of Burnout

Burnout doesn't come on suddenly, but is, as the name suggests, a slow burn accumulating through a series of established stages.

1) The Honeymoon phase

You feel happy, motivated and excited to take on new challenges, jobs or tasks. Energy, satisfaction and productivity levels are high.

2) Onset of stress phase

Stress sets in. You may feel tired or anxious about the responsibilities that previously left you feeling energised. As the stress progresses, you may start to experience physical or mental symptoms, such as losing focus, decreased productivity, and sleep disturbances.

3) Chronic stress phase

Stress is now more persistent, and even the smallest of tasks could set you off in a spiral of anxiety or anger. Apathy sets in as you withdraw and start to shut down. This level of chronic stress affects your work, home and social life.

4) Burnout phase

You've reached a limit of numbness and self-doubt where you can no longer normally function. You become obsessively consumed by work issues that manifest in physical symptoms leading to chronic headaches, migraines, stomach issues and gastrointestinal problems. Your nervous system is in a constant state of high alert.

5) Habitual burnout phase

This anxious and stressful state is now your new normal as you experience constant cognitive fatigue, physical issues and mood swings. Left untreated, burnout at this stage will likely lead to depression.

To fully heal and recover from burnout takes time; that's why it's so critical to recognise the stages early on and distance yourself from the primary stressor before it's too late.

Burnout and Your Nervous System

Burnout is so much more than simply being "too busy"; it's chronic, unrelenting stress that pushes our nervous system past its capacity to recover. The impact of stress shows up as we struggle to regulate our emotions, think clearly, and develop deep connections with others.

When we experience chronic stress, our brains' prefrontal cortex (responsible for decision-making and executive function) is suppressed while the amygdala (our natural alarm system) is activated into a state of high alert.

As a result, our nervous system becomes severely dysregulated and starts to break down. In this prolonged state of activation and heightened alert, our brain experiences changes that keep our stress hormone cortisol levels elevated. This causes the body to struggle as it works to regulate and return to its regular rest and recovery balance. The physical result is a feeling of constant fight‑or‑flight, even when there's no immediate threat.

Chronic stress and burnout can also lead to cognitive defects such as brain fog and memory issues, increased anxiety, and insomnia, as well as suppressing the immune system, leading to more significant health issues.

Burnout is at a Tipping Point

Beyond the physical toll, burnout erodes our sense of self; at a certain point, it can distort our identity and our perception of reality. Society's unrelenting messaging that our worth is tied to output, responsiveness, and usefulness takes over, and we override our needs, suppress our feelings, and tell ourselves to just try harder, which only exacerbates the problem.

Unfortunately, following the COVID-19 pandemic, burnout has become more common, severe, and persistent than ever before, especially amongst healthcare and frontline workers.

Whether you're early in your career, a midlife professional, or just hanging on until retirement, chances are high that you might be feeling the pressure of never‑ending work demands. Rest assured, you're not alone. In today's world, burnout isn't a minor or occasional issue.

In fact, a 2023 Gallup survey found that a significant number of employees - 70% - have experienced burnout, stress, and exhaustion in the workplace, and that 44% feel this way "often" or "always."

It's worth noting that the study also found those with low self-esteem, unrealistic workplace expectations, and an inability to handle stress may have a higher risk of burnout.

Numbers like these underscore that burnout is no longer the exception—it's the norm.

Combine the demands of work with midlife, ageing parents, school-age children, social and community obligations, and you're looking at a pressure powder keg.

Midlife Burnout or Midlife Power?

While midlife is often viewed negatively, burnout at this stage of life can serve as a turning point and catalyst for change.

How many years have you worn your resilience like a gold star badge, staying late, always saying yes, pushing through despite the odds?

How long have you spent prioritising everyone else's needs over your own?

Can you relate to feeling constantly overwhelmed by focusing on achievement, providing, and caregiving? If you're waking up with dread, headaches and chronic pain and tension, you're in the danger zone of burnout.

If you can no longer feel a spark of joy, curiosity, and compassion—that's your body giving you a warning signal that it's time to find a new way of doing things. Left untreated, the cracks will appear, accompanied by detachment, difficulty concentrating, and a profound fatigue that no amount of sleep can alleviate.

By reframing this period of your life, you can turn it into a time of great power. While burnout might feel like a breakdown, with the right approach, it can be used as a breakthrough and a fresh chapter to start something entirely new.

Recognising the Signs of  Burnout and Taking Action

Burnout isn't a personal failure; it's your nervous system under siege. Burnout doesn't mean you're broken—it's a signal that something drastic needs to change before total collapse begins.

Recovery from burnout is possible when you start listening to your body and emotions, relearn how to rest, be still, and say no. By giving yourself the space for deep reflection, you can reframe what you want for your future, reshape your work to align with your values and take action to live your authentic life.

By making small but intentional lifestyle shifts, incorporating more relaxation, adventure, and time for creativity, your reality could look dramatically different. It is possible to live differently!

Work shouldn't completely drain you—it should fuel the vision of the life you're actively creating.

What if your sense of worthiness doesn't revolve around how much work you do, but rather how you're living your life?

Find Your Way Back From Burnout at The Place Retreats

At The Place Retreats Bali, we specialise in helping clients find their way back from the brink of burnout. Our unique and powerful therapeutic programmes combine intense psychotherapy, kundalini yoga and bodywork. With a tailored retreat specifically designed for you, our experienced team of therapists helps those suffering from burnout recover, renew, and revive.

If you're ready to find out how burnout can become a turning point in your life, reach out to The Place Retreats for your free 15-minute consultation. Let us design a tailor-made burnout retreat to turn your breaking point into a place of power. You don't have to do this alone.