8 ms·

I thought burnout to be caused by stress and exhaustion. Your mind shuts down to protect itself and anything work related triggers heavy anxiety. In that respec

I thought burnout to be caused by stress and exhaustion. Your mind shuts down to protect itself and anything work related triggers heavy anxiety. In that respect burnout is more akin to PTSD than depression.

fapjacks 10y ago
I unfortunately have PTSD from my service in combat, and have previously burned out at work, before my time in the infantry. These two things are not related nor for that matter very much alike. Burnout -- at least, the burnout that I have experienced -- is manageable to some degree, but I could tell you stories about PTSD that don't sound believable.
- InclinedPlane 10y ago
  Indeed. I've suffered through burnout and recently realized I have PTSD as well (though it's comparatively minor, I didn't realize for the longest time because it was due to childhood emotional trauma not combat or anything like that and I had no clue what the symptoms were or what could cause it). Burnout is a stress disorder, as is PTSD, but trauma is typically not involved. Indeed, the lack of trauma is often why burnout sneaks up on people so easily. At least with PTSD you often have some "big event" that you can track things back to that is something that most people would say "ok, that's something that can be life altering". But you can burnout even if you're working only 20 hours a week at a "fun" job and earning 6 figures a year. Burnout is caused by stress, PTSD is stress and other symptoms caused by trauma. They share some similar symptoms because they both involve stress, but they are not the same. Removing the stress and spending time relaxing usually helps clear up burnout to a substantial degree, but the stress in PTSD is caused by the memory of trauma that happened in the past, and that doesn't go away, it's internal not external. Additionally, PTSD is not only harder to tackle it's also typically more life altering because it has much more severe symptoms (arousal, hypervigilance, constant reliving of the trauma, guilt, being easily startled, etc.)
- nommm-nommm 10y ago
  Seriously. Comparing burnout to PTSD is inaccurate, insulting, and offensive. Post traumatic stress disorder - trauma. Coding is not trauma and can't be compared to trauma.
  - reitanqild 10y ago
    A serious burnout is serious as well. Two issues: 1. it seems lots people mix up burnout with exhaustion or lack of motivation. It is not the same. 2. I'm afraid, and I am not alone to think that people feel like burnout == bragging rights. It is not. It is just painful and unproductive. I now say (tongue-in-cheek, admittedly) that it is far better to keep going at 95-120% for year after year than going all the way to 160 for weeks, meet the wall and needing months to fully recover. Often families and other relationships suffer as well.
  - yoplait_ 10y ago
    I got into really dark places from overworking. Stopped feeling like myself, stopped feeling my body. I'd get panic attacks, shut down, feel like I'm watching the movie of my life rather than living it as first person. I basically wasn't myself anymore. A simple thought could propel me into that other dimension. I had all kind of weird body effects, couldn't feel limbs, completely lost strength in my back to the point I couldn't stand or sit. It took months to get back to normal. So is your second sentence inaccurate, insulting, and offensive? yeah
    - nommm-nommm 10y ago
      Yes, I'm very well aware of all those symptoms. Still can't compare it to PTSD.
      - yoplait_ 10y ago
        well watch me
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fapjacks 10y ago

I unfortunately have PTSD from my service in combat, and have previously burned out at work, before my time in the infantry. These two things are not related nor for that matter very much alike. Burnout -- at least, the burnout that I have experienced -- is manageable to some degree, but I could tell you stories about PTSD that don't sound believable.

InclinedPlane 10y ago
Indeed. I've suffered through burnout and recently realized I have PTSD as well (though it's comparatively minor, I didn't realize for the longest time because it was due to childhood emotional trauma not combat or anything like that and I had no clue what the symptoms were or what could cause it). Burnout is a stress disorder, as is PTSD, but trauma is typically not involved. Indeed, the lack of trauma is often why burnout sneaks up on people so easily. At least with PTSD you often have some "big event" that you can track things back to that is something that most people would say "ok, that's something that can be life altering". But you can burnout even if you're working only 20 hours a week at a "fun" job and earning 6 figures a year. Burnout is caused by stress, PTSD is stress and other symptoms caused by trauma. They share some similar symptoms because they both involve stress, but they are not the same. Removing the stress and spending time relaxing usually helps clear up burnout to a substantial degree, but the stress in PTSD is caused by the memory of trauma that happened in the past, and that doesn't go away, it's internal not external. Additionally, PTSD is not only harder to tackle it's also typically more life altering because it has much more severe symptoms (arousal, hypervigilance, constant reliving of the trauma, guilt, being easily startled, etc.)
nommm-nommm 10y ago
Seriously. Comparing burnout to PTSD is inaccurate, insulting, and offensive. Post traumatic stress disorder - trauma. Coding is not trauma and can't be compared to trauma.
- reitanqild 10y ago
  A serious burnout is serious as well. Two issues: 1. it seems lots people mix up burnout with exhaustion or lack of motivation. It is not the same. 2. I'm afraid, and I am not alone to think that people feel like burnout == bragging rights. It is not. It is just painful and unproductive. I now say (tongue-in-cheek, admittedly) that it is far better to keep going at 95-120% for year after year than going all the way to 160 for weeks, meet the wall and needing months to fully recover. Often families and other relationships suffer as well.
- yoplait_ 10y ago
  I got into really dark places from overworking. Stopped feeling like myself, stopped feeling my body. I'd get panic attacks, shut down, feel like I'm watching the movie of my life rather than living it as first person. I basically wasn't myself anymore. A simple thought could propel me into that other dimension. I had all kind of weird body effects, couldn't feel limbs, completely lost strength in my back to the point I couldn't stand or sit. It took months to get back to normal. So is your second sentence inaccurate, insulting, and offensive? yeah
  - nommm-nommm 10y ago
    Yes, I'm very well aware of all those symptoms. Still can't compare it to PTSD.
    - yoplait_ 10y ago
      well watch me
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