INTRODUCTION
Chronic fatigue, irritability, or insomnia are common symptoms associated with burnout. Individuals suffering from burnout may feel drained of energy, disengaged from their professional activities, and unable to cope with the daily demands of their work. The lack of updated and reliable statistics makes it difficult to know the exact prevalence of this condition in Canada. Still, it appears to be increasingly common, according to some studies. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects over 1.8 million Canadians (source: https://caddac.ca/wp-content/uploads/Comorbidities-Policy-Paper_Final_FR.pdf). Can there be a connection between ADHD and burnout?
WHAT IS BURNOUT?
Burnout is also known as professional exhaustion. The World Health Organization defines it as intense fatigue, loss of control, and inability to achieve tangible work results. This disorder is caused by chronic work-related stress. Burnout is not just temporary fatigue but a state of profound exhaustion. It can affect physical, emotional, and mental health. This syndrome of professional, physical, and psychological exhaustion is usually felt in emotionally demanding work situations.
-
HOW DOES IT MANIFEST?
Burnout symptoms can vary from person to person. Physically, it often presents as permanent fatigue, sleep disorders, and potentially headaches, stomachaches, or frequent infections.
Burnout can also manifest through various psychological and behavioural symptoms. A person experiencing professional exhaustion may develop a deep sense of cynicism, becoming increasingly critical and suspicious of their work environment. Irritability and impatience become common, making social interactions difficult. A sense of total exhaustion sets in, accompanied by growing apathy and despair.
The joys of life seem to fade, replaced by deep dissatisfaction. A person with burnout may develop avoidance behaviours, such as substance abuse, to relieve their suffering. Other issues like appetite changes often accompany this scenario.
-
WHAT CAUSES BURNOUT?
Burnout is a multifactorial phenomenon. It often results from a complex interaction between work environment factors and individual characteristics. Professionally, factors such as excessive workloads, lack of autonomy in decision-making, insufficient social support, value conflicts with the organization, or job insecurity can contribute to professional exhaustion.
On a personal level, certain personality traits, such as a strong work ethic or a tendency to become emotionally invested in work, can increase vulnerability to burnout. However, professional exhaustion is not a sign of personal weakness but rather an imbalance between professional expectations and individual resources.
-
HOW DOES BURNOUT PROGRESS?
Burnout evolves gradually. Initially, a person may try to compensate for stress by working harder. This leads to increasing exhaustion, which affects both professional and personal life.
-
THE CONSEQUENCES OF BURNOUT
Burnout can have significant consequences on individuals’ health and lives. Understanding professional exhaustion, recognizing its signs, and implementing effective prevention measures are essential. The symptoms of professional exhaustion are not always specific, and medical advice is often necessary to determine the cause and initiate appropriate therapy.
ADHD: A VULNERABILITY FACTOR FOR BURNOUT
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects both adults and children. It affects around 4 to 6% of the adult population and about 5 to 7% of children in Canada.
People with ADHD may have trouble concentrating, focusing on tasks, following instructions, and organizing activities. They are often easily distracted by external stimuli. Impulsivity may also be present in individuals with ADHD, leading them to act on impulse without thinking about the consequences of their actions. They may struggle to wait their turn or interrupt activities. These individuals are also prone to hyperactivity, excessive restlessness, difficulty sitting still, and a constant need to move.
-
FOUR POSSIBLE MANIFESTATIONS OF ADHD IN PROFESSIONAL LIFE
ADHD can present in various ways in the daily lives of active individuals, affecting multiple aspects of work and interaction with colleagues:
-
-
LACK OF FOCUS
-
People with ADHD may struggle to stay focused during meetings or while performing tasks. They may quickly get bored, exacerbating inattention symptoms and finding it hard to switch focus between tasks.
Distractions from noises, movements, or even their thoughts are shared. This inattention can lead to mistakes, forgetfulness, or the inability to complete tasks within deadlines.
Hyperfocus may also be an issue, causing them to forget essential tasks or miss professional appointments. Following long instructions, listening attentively, and paying attention to details can be incredibly challenging.
-
-
POOR ORGANIZATION
-
Organizing work can be a significant challenge for those with ADHD. They may need help staying organized, making it difficult to manage substantial projects, track documents, and handle work materials. They can quickly feel overwhelmed and struggle to maintain an organized workspace.
-
-
TIME MANAGEMENT ISSUES
-
Time management is often a significant challenge for people with ADHD. They may struggle to estimate how long it will take to complete a task, leading to delays and difficulties in meeting deadlines. Procrastination is standard, with individuals postponing complex or unpleasant tasks, resulting in delays and compromised work quality. People with ADHD may also postpone long-term projects or work excessive overtime to meet deadlines. Arriving on time for work can be a real challenge.
-
-
EXCESSIVE IMPULSIVITY
-
Impulsivity is another characteristic of ADHD that can cause issues in the workplace. Individuals may speak or act without thinking, interrupt others in meetings, or make rash decisions without considering all options. This impulsivity may also lead them to take on unrealistic tasks or projects, launch into missions without planning, or make inappropriate comments.
-
HOW DOES STRESS SNEAKILY TAKE CONTROL?
ADHD is likely to increase stress in several ways. Active individuals with this disorder may feel more stressed. Difficulties in concentrating, organizing work, and meeting deadlines create a vicious cycle: the more people try to do it, the more overwhelmed they feel.
Only completed tasks can generate satisfaction for the person and their colleagues. Repeated delays can damage the person’s professional reputation, adding extra pressure to improve time management. Difficulty controlling impulses can lead to conflicts or hasty decisions with negative consequences.
This feeling of being unable to control the situation is a significant source of stress. Moreover, people with ADHD may be more sensitive to criticism and failure, which can eventually lead to low self-esteem and a sense of inadequacy.
These factors, combined with the pressure to succeed in a demanding professional environment, can contribute to high-stress levels and increase the risk of burnout.
ADHD BURNOUT OR PROFESSIONAL EXHAUSTION IN PEOPLE WITH ADHD
ADHD is a disorder that can make individuals particularly vulnerable to burnout. The challenges related to ADHD can lead to chronic stress, which eventually results in burnout. The risk of professional exhaustion is, therefore, higher in people with ADHD. Due to the additional challenges that ADHD imposes in managing daily work, individuals are more susceptible to chronic stress, eventually leading to mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion.
People with ADHD make daily efforts to cope with difficulties in concentrating, managing time, organizing tasks, and controlling impulsivity. These challenges can eventually lead to cognitive overload. A demanding or poorly adapted work environment can deplete the individual’s emotional and mental resources, making them more prone to burnout.
From a scientific perspective, some medical research also suggests that people with ADHD are more vulnerable to burnout due to difficulties in specific cognitive processes, including executive functions. These processes help plan, organize, manage time, and regulate emotions. People with ADHD often have deficits in these areas, leading to work-related difficulties and contributing to professional exhaustion.
BURNOUT: WHAT IMPACTS ON PEOPLE WITH ADHD?
The effects of burnout on people with ADHD can be significant. It can affect both their mental health and work performance. Burnout can intensify ADHD symptoms. Professional exhaustion can worsen concentration problems, make time management even more complicated, and increase irritability and impulsivity. Individuals may also feel even more disorganized and struggle with simple tasks.
Burnout can also lead to intense physical and mental fatigue, making concentrating or remaining productive at work harder. For someone with ADHD, this fatigue can significantly limit their ability to manage their disorder’s symptoms.
Burnout can cause a significant loss of motivation, where the person no longer finds meaning or satisfaction in their work. For someone with ADHD who already struggles with motivation, this can make work unbearable and increase the risk of depression.
Burnout can thus exacerbate ADHD symptoms. Prolonged stress and mental exhaustion associated with burnout will likely increase difficulties in concentration, organization, and emotional management.
WHAT SOLUTIONS PREVENT AND MANAGE BURNOUT IN PEOPLE WITH ADHD?
Several solutions can be considered for people with ADHD to prevent or manage professional exhaustion:
-
THE NEUROFEEDBACK APPROACH
Neurofeedback is a suitable solution for ADHD. It directly targets brain areas that often function less well in affected individuals. Brain activity is evaluated using a quantitative electroencephalogram, which maps the brain’s electrical activity and identifies regions linked to ADHD symptoms.
Based on the results, a psychologist selects the brain regions to target during Neurofeedback sessions. The training may focus on attention, working memory, or executive functions. If the person has other issues, like anxiety, the training can be adjusted to address them.
During a Neurofeedback session, the client watches a video, film, or image while their brain’s electrical activity is measured in real time. When the brain reaches the desired activity state, a reward is given, meaning the video starts playing. When the brain does not reach the desired state, the video stops.
This reward system encourages the brain to repeat the desired activity patterns. Through this exercise, ADHD symptoms can improve over time. This approach is considered highly effective for ADHD, with lasting effects. Optimized brain functions can continue to improve even after sessions end.
-
ALTERNATIVES FOR BETTER STRESS MANAGEMENT
Several other effective practices can also help people with ADHD better manage stress. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, for example, helps identify and modify negative thoughts that contribute to stress. It also teaches relaxation and problem-solving techniques. This practice helps develop mindfulness and accept thoughts and emotions without judgment, which can reduce anxiety and improve stress management. Learning healthy coping mechanisms to manage stress, anxiety, and frustration, such as deep breathing exercises, meditation, or regular physical activity, is recommended. These relaxation techniques help calm the mind and body.
-
USING VARIOUS STRATEGIES
Learning to organize daily life better is also an attractive solution for people with ADHD. They can implement different methods to manage their tasks, workspace, and thoughts. Planners, task lists, and filing techniques are essential.
-
WORKPLACE ACCOMMODATION
Workplace accommodations can be part of the solution to support employees with ADHD and prevent burnout. Working in a quiet, distraction-free environment helps reduce concentration difficulties. Flexible work hours or remote work allow for individual energy fluctuations when possible. Open communication and supervisor support can also help people with ADHD manage their workload and seek assistance when needed.
CONCLUSION
There are links between ADHD and burnout, even though they are distinct conditions. Specialists in neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD can implement therapies tailored to individuals experiencing both burnout and ADHD. Appropriate support allows for an accurate ADHD diagnosis and an assessment of the severity of burnout. This step is crucial to create a personalized therapy plan that considers the person’s symptoms, strengths, weaknesses, and work environment. Depending on the manifestations and severity of the situation, the doctor may recommend a combination of different therapeutic approaches, such as Neurofeedback. Long-term support helps adjust the therapy and assess the patient’s health progress. This customized therapy helps identify necessary workplace accommodations to support the return to work and prevent relapses.