Burnout: the signs that creep up on you, and why talking early matters
Getting through hard times · Équipe Viatous · 4 min
It often starts as "just being really tired". Then weekends aren't enough to recover. On Sunday evening, there's a knot in your stomach. You read the same email three times without taking it in. And you tell yourself it'll pass, you just need to hang on until the holidays.
Burnout doesn't come out of nowhere. It builds up gradually, and often in the people who care most about their work. And the earlier you talk about it, the easier it is to turn things around.
What exactly is burnout?
The World Health Organization describes it as a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that hasn't been successfully managed. It has three dimensions: feeling exhausted, growing mental distance from your job (or cynicism about it), and feeling less effective.
INRS , France's reference institute for occupational health, lists a range of signs. None of them is specific on its own, but together they should ring a bell:
Emotional : feeling empty, irritable, pessimistic, losing self-confidence.
In your head : trouble concentrating, indecision.
In your body : constant fatigue, headaches or back pain, sleep problems.
In your behaviour : withdrawing, snapping at people, less empathy, needing alcohol or something else to "unwind".
If several of these sound familiar, that isn't a diagnosis. But it's a good reason to talk about it.
Why we keep quiet
Often the hardest part is admitting it. We don't dare say we can't cope anymore. We're afraid of looking fragile, letting the team down, losing our place. Often it's also because we've always been "the one who holds it together". So we grit our teeth, until our body says stop for us.
Yet saying "I'm exhausted" isn't giving up. It's giving yourself a chance not to fall further.
And if you notice these signs in a colleague or someone close, one simple sentence can open the door: "You seem really tired lately. Want to talk about it?" You don't need a solution. Showing that you've noticed already means a lot.
Who to talk to
Your GP : the first door to knock on. They can take stock with you and suggest the right support.
The occupational doctor : in France, according to INRS, they can refer you for care and look at adjusting your role or objectives. You can contact them yourself.
A psychologist : in France, the Mon soutien psy scheme covers up to 12 sessions a year with a partner psychologist.
The people close to you : they often see something's wrong before you do. Letting them help already lightens the load.
Your manager, if you feel safe doing so : talking about workload before breaking point can make a real difference.
Small habits that protect you
In the meantime, and alongside the support they can't replace, a few habits help you breathe a little:
Set a time to finish work, and stick to it as often as you can.
Take real breaks, away from screens.
Put one activity back in your week that has nothing to do with work.
See people for fun, not for "networking".
Viatous: talking with people who've been there
Sometimes what you need most is to hear someone say: "I thought I was the problem too." On Viatous, you could write, for example: "Talk about my exhaustion at work with people who've been through burnout." Viatous looks for a small group of 2 to 4 people: a request for support with a personal difficulty is directed to a support Room, for adults 18 and over, with a reinforced frame.
Roomi, the Viatous robot, welcomes the group, goes over the rules and gives everyone their turn. You show up with your first name, the camera is optional, and you can leave the Room at any time.
And to bring some life back into your week, you could also write: "Walk for an hour on Saturday mornings with two or three people, no work talk." An hour outside, no emails, no meetings: sometimes that's where everything starts to breathe again.
Viatous isn't therapy or medical advice. It's a peer space, alongside your doctor. See how it works .
If you feel you're about to break
Immediate danger in France: call 17 (police) or 112 . If you can't speak, text 114 . Outside France, contact the emergency services in your country.
Suicidal thoughts or deep distress, for you or someone close to you: 3114 in France, free, 24/7 ( 3114.fr ).
For ongoing support: your GP, a psychologist, or France's Mon soutien psy scheme (up to 12 sessions a year with a partner psychologist, reimbursed by the national health insurance).