The Process
Every case of burnout is different, but there is a classic slippery slope, which teachers need to know about in order to avoid. These phases are not necessarily followed sequentially, or in full...
Step 1 - The Need to Prove Yourself
The first predictor of burnout is often excessive ambition. This begins as an NQT's desire to prove themselves in the classroom. This desire turns into determination and compulsion.
Step 2 - Working Harder
Because they have to prove themselves – to the students and to the school – young teachers set high personal expectations. In order to meet these expectations, they focus exclusively on work, and they take on more work than they sensibly should. They may become obsessed with doing everything themselves and convince themselves that they are irreplaceable.
Step 3 - Neglecting Personal Needs
Having devoted themselves to work, they have little time or energy for anything else. Friends and family, eating, and sleeping begin to be seen as less necessary or important, as they reduce the time and energy that can be spent on work, and represent distractions from the important mission of the irreplaceable teacher.
Step 4 - Displacement and Conflict
At this stage, most teachers realize that what they are doing is not right, but they typically misdiagnose the cause and source of their problems. They may blame the school, their mentors, or their partners for failing to support them or not understanding their job. This stage may represent an emotional crisis and is likely to involve interpersonal conflict. It is now that the first physical symptoms become apparent.
Step 5 - Revision of Values
The teacher starts to become increasingly withdrawn and socially isolated; now avoiding conflict. As they do this, their perceptions and value systems change. Standards of personal care may fall. The teacher now has no energy for anything outside school. Their new value system centres entirely on teaching and they start to be emotionally clumsy. Paradoxically, the more they focus on teaching, the less effective their teaching may become.
Step 6 - Denial of Problems
The teacher begins to become intolerant and hostile. They do not like being sociable. Teaching now tends to be done 'by the book'. Students start to see more sarcasm and shouting and harsher sanctions. The teacher may blame their relationship problems on time pressure and all the work that they have to do. The quality of teaching may now be significantly affected. Capability may be questioned.
Step 7 - Withdrawal
Social withdrawal is now extreme, verging on isolation: a wall. Alcohol or drugs may be used as a release from obsessive, constant – frequently unproductive – work. The teacher may experience feelings of being without hope or direction.
Step 9 – Outside Realization.
Behavioral changes are now obvious. Students, colleagues, family and immediate friends cannot ignore the changes in the personality and behaviour. Interventions may occur, both in school and at home.
Step 10 – Depersonalization
Losing contact with their core beliefs, it's possible that the teacher no longer sees themself or other or their job as valuable. They may also lose complete track of their personal needs. Their view of life narrows to only seeing in the present time, while their life turns to a series of mechanical repetitive functions.
Step 11 - Inner Emptiness and Displacement.
The teacher may describe 'feeling empty inside' and may engage in activities such as binge eating, over consumption of alcohol, dependence on sex or drug abuse to attempt to overcome this.
Step 12 – Clinical Depression
Burnout may lead to and include depression. The teacher presents as exhausted, hopeless, indifferent, and believes that there is nothing for them in the future. To them, there is no meaning to life. Typical depression symptoms arise; they collapse physically and emotionally and obviously require immediate medical attention. In extreme cases, when depression is involved, suicidal ideation may occur, with it being viewed as an escape from their situation.
[modified from Herbert Freudenbergers 12-stage model American Mind 2006]