Burnout help Vienna

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Adjustment disorders are temporary reactions to stressful life events. Our experts help Burnout is a state of deep exhaustion caused by persistent stress and excessive demands at work or in the social environment. Our experts support you in recognizing the first warning signs, finding individual ways out of the exhaustion cycle and regaining more quality of life and resilience in the long term - with sound diagnostics, individual psychotherapy and practical help for everyday life. Find out more →

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All about burnout

Picture of Fachbeitrag von Dr. Katrin Wippersberg

Specialist article by Dr. Katrin Wippersberg

Dr. Katrin Wippersberg is a multi-skilled psychoanalyst and psychotherapist who works with great empathy and extensive experience in the treatment of trauma, anxiety disorders and depression, as well as being a profound couples therapist.

Definition: Burnout is a chronic state of exhaustion caused by persistent stress and excessive demands in a professional or social context. It is not a separate diagnosis in ICD-10, but is classified under „Problems related to difficulties in coping with life“ (Z73.0).

Burnout at a glance

Aspect	Summary
What is burnout?	Burnout is a state of chronic exhaustion caused by prolonged stress and excessive demands at work or in the social environment. Typical symptoms are emotional exhaustion, reduced performance and a negative attitude towards work. Burnout is not an independent diagnosis, but is listed in the ICD-10 as a problem of coping with life.
Symptoms and course	The symptoms usually develop gradually and include emotional, cognitive and physical complaints. These include persistent tiredness, irritability, concentration problems, sleep disorders and a feeling of inner emptiness. The progression can be divided into different phases - up to complete exhaustion.
Diagnostics	The diagnosis is made clinically and discursively using interviews, specific questionnaires (such as MBI, AVEM) and a careful differentiation from other mental disorders such as depression or anxiety disorders. The focus is on the individual stress constellation.
Therapy options	A multimodal treatment concept includes psychoeducation, psychotherapy, mindfulness and bodywork, structural work and, if necessary, medication support and interventions in the workplace. The aim is to strengthen resources and find ways out of the cycle of exhaustion.
Prevention & support	Effective prevention starts at an individual, company and social level: Promoting self-care, clear roles, time autonomy, a culture of recognition as well as supervision and psychological counseling. The Viennese practice offers fast and professional help for burnout and accompanies those affected on their way back to more joie de vivre.

What is burnout?

Burnout is a chronic state of exhaustion caused by persistent stress and excessive demands in a professional or social context. It is not a separate diagnosis in ICD-10, but is classified under „Problems related to difficulties in coping with life“ (Z73.0).

Burnout is characterized by emotional exhaustion, reduced performance and an increasingly negative or distant attitude towards work or people. It is often a multifactorial syndrome with professional, social and internal psychological components.

Origin and causes

Burnout arises from the interplay of individual, professional and social factors. The classic development model assumes an imbalance between demands and resources.

Individual factors: Individual factors include perfectionism, high performance demands and difficulties in setting boundaries and saying no. Low self-esteem or a compensatory focus on performance can also increase the risk of burnout.

Occupational factors: In a professional context, constant stress, time pressure and high levels of responsibility play an important role. A lack of recognition, a lack of feedback, a lack of influence and role conflicts or clashes of values can also contribute to the development of burnout.

Social factors: The societal or social and cultural aspects include the blurring of boundaries between work and leisure time, for example through an „always-on“ culture, the economization of social professions and isolation through working from home or competitive pressure.

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Symptomatology

The symptoms of burnout usually develop gradually and progress in several phases. One of the main signs is emotional exhaustion. Those affected feel chronically tired, empty inside, experience excessive demands and react increasingly irritably to the demands of everyday life.

Cognitive impairments also frequently occur, such as concentration problems or a decline in memory, which make it even more difficult to cope with daily tasks. On a physical level, symptoms such as sleep disorders, headaches or gastrointestinal problems often occur, which often lead to further stress.

Another characteristic feature is increasing cynicism and depersonalization. This manifests itself in the fact that those affected are indifferent to their work, withdraw inwardly or even have the feeling that they only have to „function“. A drop in performance is also a typical symptom: many experience the subjective feeling that they can no longer achieve anything, which also leads to a loss of purpose and motivation. The end result is often a state of deep alienation and inner emptiness.

Differentiation from depression & other disorders

Burnout is similar in its symptoms to a depressive episode, but is context-bound and occurs primarily in connection with professional or social overload. One of the most important differential diagnoses is depression (F32/F33), which occurs independently of external circumstances and is characterized by a deep hopelessness. Another differential diagnosis is adjustment disorder (F43.2), which arises as an acute reaction to a clearly identifiable stressor. Chronic fatigue syndrome must also be considered, in which the exhaustion is primarily physically mediated. Burnout can develop into a depressive or anxiety disorder, especially if there is no timely intervention.

Psychodynamic aspects

From a psychodynamic perspective, burnout is often associated with unresolved inner conflicts, structural deficits or the use of specific defense mechanisms.

A central aspect is the so-called superego pressure, in which identity is strongly defined by performance. One's own self-worth is closely linked to success, while failure is experienced as existentially threatening. Winnicott's concept of the „false self“ also plays a role: those affected adapt excessively to external expectations and neglect their own needs in the process.

It is not uncommon for feelings of powerlessness or helplessness to be warded off by hyperactivity and constant functioning. Earlier relationship experiences, for example in the form of parentification or an excessive sense of responsibility, can also lay the foundation for later overcommitment and thus for the development of burnout.

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Phase model according to Freudenberger & North

The classic burnout model describes 12 phases, including

Compulsion to prove yourself
Increased use
Neglect of own needs
Repression of conflicts
Reinterpretation of values
Flattening of social contacts
Loss of perception
Feeling of emptiness
Depression
Complete exhaustion

This model makes it clear how, in the course of burnout, the disconnection from one's own self increases and functional abilities are increasingly lost.

Comorbidities

Burnout often occurs together with other mental or somatic illnesses. The most common comorbidities include depression, anxiety disorders and panic attacks. Somatization disorders and functional syndromes are also common. In addition, substance abuse such as the consumption of alcohol as a form of self-medication can occur. Sleep disorders and pain syndromes are also typical comorbidities.

Diagnostics

As burnout is not an independent diagnosis in ICD-10, the diagnosis is clinical-discursive - with a focus on stress constellations and subjective experience.

Instrument	Short essence
Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI)	Standardized questionnaire procedure for recording burnout symptoms in the areas of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and reduced performance.
AVEM (work-related behavior and experience patterns)	Assesses individual ways of dealing with professional demands and evaluates personal resources and stress in the work context.
SCL-90-R, BDI	Psychometric methods for differentiating and distinguishing depressive symptoms from burnout; support in differential diagnostics.
Medical history	Qualitative interview to record the professional situation, meaningfulness and biographical background.

Therapy options

Therapy option	Description
Psychoeducation and relief	Education about burnout and development of individual strategies for relief and self-care.
Psychotherapy	Treatment with psychodynamic, systemic or behavioral therapy approaches - depending on your needs and personal situation.
Mindfulness-based and body-oriented methods	MBSR, yoga, breathing exercises to reduce stress and strengthen self-awareness.
Structural work	Support in setting boundaries, prioritizing and clarifying personal questions of meaning.
Drug therapy	Targeted use of medication, especially in the case of pronounced depressive symptoms or additional illnesses.
Workplace interventions	Individual measures in the workplace, such as coaching, advice or support with reintegration.

Burnout prevention

Preventive measure	Description
Promoting emotional competence and self-care	Strengthening the ability to perceive one's own feelings and deal with stress appropriately; promoting a mindful approach to one's own resources.
Clearly defined roles and responsibilities	Creating transparency with regard to tasks, responsibilities and expectations to avoid excessive demands and role conflicts.

Burnout in special groups

Executives:
They are often particularly at risk as they have a high level of responsibility, receive little feedback and are confronted with a large fall height when they fail. Behind the pronounced performance pattern are often narcissistic conflicts or attachment deficits.

Social professions and care work:
People in social or caring professions show a high level of commitment, but usually receive little appreciation from society. This increases their susceptibility to empathic exhaustion, also known as compassion fatigue.

Single parents and family carers:
They often experience burnout in secret. Long-term responsibility without sufficient compensation or support often leads to chronic overload and exhaustion.

ICD-11 & future prospects

In the ICD-11, burnout is included as a „work-related phenomenon“ - not as a disease, but as a „factor influencing health“ (QD85). This reclassification reflects the growing importance of work-related overload.

In the long term, the aim is to differentiate more precisely between burnout, depression and chronic fatigue - with a better understanding of their transitions and deep psychodynamic structure.

Frequently asked questions & answers

Why does burnout affect committed, hard-working people in particular?

Because they often put their own needs on the back burner in favor of tasks, responsibility or recognition. Those who give a lot often only realize late on that they are reaching their limits - especially if self-worth is strongly linked to performance.

Can burnout also occur when you „actually have nothing to do“?

Yes, burnout is not just a phenomenon of overwork - chronic underchallenge, loss of purpose or the feeling of being superfluous can also lead to similar symptoms. This is sometimes referred to as „boreout“.

Is burnout a personal weakness or a social problem?

Both. Individual factors such as perfectionism or a lack of self-care play a role - but many cases of burnout are the result of structural overload, a lack of recognition and growing pressure in the world of work and life.

Why is it so difficult for those affected to accept help?

Because they are often strongly defined by their function or role - showing weakness contradicts their self-image. Added to this is the fear of being seen as „not resilient“ or losing control. Withdrawal is often already part of the spiral of exhaustion.

Can you also get burnout in your private life - e.g. as a parent or caregiver?

Yes, burnout does not only occur at work. Long-term overload in family or social roles - without sufficient rest or recognition - can also lead to burnout. Single parents or family carers are particularly at risk.

Can burnout be cured or does it last forever?

Burnout is treatable - but recovery can take time. It is crucial to recognize the causes and make lasting changes. Relapses are possible if old patterns become active again, but are often avoidable with good support.

Does burnout occur in children or adolescents?

Burnout in the classic sense is rare in children. However, they can also get into a similar state of exhaustion due to pressure to perform at school, excessive demands at home or emotional neglect. In this case, we tend to talk about school anxiety, psychosomatic complaints or inner emptiness.

Why do doctors or employers sometimes not recognize burnout?

Because it is not a clearly defined ICD-10 diagnosis, burnout is often regarded as „unspecific“. In addition, those affected tend to function for a long time. There is often a lack of awareness of the psychological dimension of chronic fatigue - both in the healthcare system and in companies.

What to do when you feel burnt out but „have to work“?

It is important to take the first warning signs seriously: Sleep problems, irritability, inner emptiness. Even small steps - breaks, conversations, professional help - can be decisive. If you „function“ for too long, you risk a complete breakdown.

Can people with high resilience also get burnout?

Yes, resilience protects you - but it is not a guarantee. If you constantly push yourself beyond your limits, forget yourself or work in a destructive environment, you can burn out despite your inner strength.