ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the biological changes that can occur in the body and brain during burnout and emphasises that these can be reversed by certain therapeutic strategies. You can skip this chapter, however, if you are not so interested in ‘looking under the bonnet’ and simply wish to know how to rekindle your spirits. Burnout leaves physical markers of strain, measurable on lab tests and visible on brain scans. These develop as a consequence of prolonged exposure to stress, which makes it harder to ‘reset’ to homeostasis. ‘Excito-toxicity’ is the name for this self-destructive biological feedback loop. The different patterns of burnout, as well as differing patterns of physical and psychological symptoms, suggest that variable biological factors are in play. However, no consistent or definitive changes have been found, and measurements of suspected markers of burnout (e.g. cortisol levels) vary by time of day and method of measurement, complicating clarification. Markers of burnout include cognitive and sleep disturbances, disrupted immune function and micro-inflammation, and heightened risk of coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes and a range of other conditions, plus higher levels of cholesterol and triglycerides and lower cardiovascular fitness. These markers are suggestive of greater ‘wear and tear’ on the body.
