Do you find yourself already exhausted by Monday, feeling drained even after the weekend, or experiencing growing detachment from a job that once excited you? This might not be simple tiredness, but burnout, a condition officially recognized by the World Health Organization as a phenomenon linked to the work context. Understanding what it is is the first step to addressing it.
What is burnout
Burnout is a syndrome that arises from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It is not considered a disease in the strict sense: since 2019 the WHO has included it in the ICD-11, the eleventh revision of the International Classification of Diseases, within the chapter dedicated to factors influencing health status, distinguishing it both from occupational diseases and from generic psychosocial risks. In practice, it is a condition that leads people to seek healthcare services, without being a pathology in itself.
The concept was first described in the 1970s by psychologist Herbert Freudenberger and later explored further by Christina Maslach, who together with Susan Jackson developed in 1981 the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the questionnaire still most widely used to assess its presence.
The three dimensions of burnout according to the WHO
According to the official definition, burnout consists of three components:
Exhaustion of energy
Persistent physical and emotional fatigue that does not go away with rest
Mental detachment from work
Feelings of cynicism, negativism or indifference towards one’s duties
Reduced professional effectiveness
The feeling of no longer performing as well as before, with a decline in productivity and self-esteem
The 3 dimensions of burnout according to the WHO definition (ICD-11, 2019).
Burnout or simple work stress? The differences
It is important not to confuse burnout with a period of work stress, however intense. Acute stress tends to resolve with rest and with the end of the workload that caused it; burnout, on the other hand, develops progressively, over months or years, and remains specific to the professional sphere: the WHO itself specifies that the term should not be used to describe difficulties experienced in other areas of life. If you recognize yourself in an earlier stage, you might find this article helpful: work stress: symptoms and solutions.
What signs should not be underestimated?
Someone going through burnout may recognize in themselves:
- Chronic fatigue, even upon waking
- Irritability or impatience towards colleagues, clients or patients
- Cynicism, disillusionment towards one’s role or company
- Difficulty concentrating and decline in performance
- Physical symptoms such as headaches, sleep disturbances or gastrointestinal problems
- A feeling of inadequacy, even in the face of objectively valid results
If these signs persist for weeks and interfere with daily life, it may be helpful to talk to a professional.
Who is most at risk of burnout?
The phenomenon does not only affect executives or high-responsibility professions. In Italy, according to data reported by workplace safety observatories, the most exposed professions include healthcare, education, care work, and more generally jobs characterized by heavy emotional load, high pace and little recognition. Parents dealing with a double burden, between work and family care, can also experience a similar form of exhaustion.
How to address burnout through a psychotherapy path
A targeted therapeutic path can help to:
- Recognize the early signs before the situation worsens
- Understand which personal and work-related dynamics fuel the exhaustion
- Regain awareness and contact with one’s own needs, a core principle of the Gestalt approach
- Develop concrete stress management strategies, including relaxation techniques such as Autogenic training
- In cases where burnout is intertwined with work-related traumatic experiences (mobbing, critical events), consider specific work withEMDR
A path does not only aim to “better withstand” the workload, but to restore a more authentic balance between one’s energy, values and the demands of the professional environment. When coming to the office is difficult, it is also possible to work remotely: I discuss this in the article on how online therapy works.
Frequently asked questions about burnout
Is burnout considered a disease?
No. The WHO classifies it as an occupational phenomenon, not a medical condition, but it can still have a significant impact on psychophysical well-being and justify a support path.
How long does a psychotherapy path for burnout last?
It varies from person to person, depending on the severity of the situation and the goals shared with the therapist. Some benefits can emerge already in the first weeks, while lasting consolidation generally requires several months of continuous work.
Is it possible to recover from burnout without changing jobs?
In many cases yes: the therapeutic path works first of all on the person, on their resources and limits, and it is often possible to regain balance even while staying in the same work context, with any agreed adjustments.
Where can I turn for burnout support in Florence?
It is possible to request an initial introductory session with a specialized psychotherapist, even just to understand whether and how it is useful to undertake a path.
In summary
- Burnout is a syndrome related to chronic work-related stress, recognized by the WHO in the ICD-11 as an occupational phenomenon
- It manifests through exhaustion, detachment/cynicism and reduced professional effectiveness
- It must be distinguished from simple stress: it develops progressively and only concerns the work environment
- A psychotherapy journey can help recognize it, understand its causes and regain balance
A tailored path with Dr. Martina Fino in Florence
They are Martina Fino, psychologist and psychotherapist registered with the Register of Psychologists of Tuscany (no. 5767), graduated in Clinical and Health Psychology from the University of Florence. In my work, developed also within the psychiatry department of the Florence ASL and psycho-oncological support at the Careggi Hospital, I deal with anxiety, stress, burnout, relational difficulties and moments of transition, with an integrated approach that combines Gestalt psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral techniques, EMDR and Autogenic Training.
I receive in the studio at Florence, on Via Tommaso Campanella (Campo di Marte – Coverciano area), easily reachable by bus lines 10, 17, 20, 31, 32, and I also offer online sessions for those living outside the city or in other areas of Tuscany.
If you recognize yourself in some of the signs described in this article, don't wait for the situation to get worse: contact me for an initial introductory consultation, with no obligation.
- 📞 Phone/WhatsApp: 392 693 1473
- ✉️ Email: fino.martina@gmail.com
- 📍 Office: Via Tommaso Campanella 5, 50136 Florence
Sources
- World Health Organization (WHO) – Burn-out an “occupational phenomenon”: International Classification of Diseases
- ADAPT Bulletin – Burnout included in the ICD-11 by the WHO
- Emilia-Romagna Region, Workplace Safety – Burnout is an occupational phenomenon: WHO confirmation
Se il burnout si è già installato, uscirne da soli è difficile: qui trovi il percorso per lo stress da lavoro a Firenze.
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