Burnout consists of the following phases: Stress Arousal, Energy Conservation and?

Burnout is a psychological syndrome that typically progresses through various phases, illustrating a cycle of declining mental and physical health often related to prolonged stress and high demands. The third phase, which is exhaustion, represents a critical point where an individual feels depleted of energy and unable to cope with ongoing stressors.

In the context of burnout, the initial phase, stress arousal, involves the individual experiencing high levels of stress and anxiety due to overwhelming demands. This is followed by energy conservation, where the individual may start to withdraw and decrease activity as a response to the excessive stress, attempting to preserve their energy.

In the exhaustion phase, the individual may show signs of fatigue, reduced performance, and feelings of helplessness or hopelessness. This reflects a significant decline in mental and emotional well-being, often accompanied by physical symptoms. Recognizing exhaustion as the concluding phase of burnout is crucial for understanding how it affects overall health and productivity, making it essential to address earlier warning signs of stress and arousal.