Doctors explained the physiological causes of human burnout
The feeling of fatigue does not always reflect the actual state of the body: in some cases, the brain "turns on" a signal about the limit of possibilities long before physical or mental exhaustion. Experts have explained why this happens and what role neurophysiological mechanisms play in this. All the details are in the Izvestia article.
Mechanisms of fatigue formation
The anterior cingulate cortex and the insular lobe of the brain are responsible for the feeling of exhaustion. These areas assess the load and form a subjective sense of effort. According to Ekaterina Demyanovskaya, an expert doctor at the Hemotest Laboratory, a neurologist, a signal of the limit of possibilities can arise in the nervous system long before the actual physical or mental exhaustion of the body.
"When the brain detects the accumulation of substances that cause drowsiness and fatigue, and at the same time feels a lack of substances that give a sense of reward and motivation, a protective mechanism is triggered inside. As a result, an artificial limit appears, and the signal "I can't take it anymore" may appear long before the physical or mental strength really runs out," explains Ekaterina Demyanovskaya.
That is why a person is able to describe burnout and extreme fatigue in the complete absence of objective physical failures — normal blood counts, good oxygen saturation and calm heart function. This condition is called central fatigue, where the problem is located inside the nervous system rather than in the muscles or organs.
Psychological factors and attitudes
Psychologist Natalia Kucheryavaya notes that burnout is often triggered by a person's internal attitudes. People who strive for constant productivity and forbid themselves to make mistakes face exhaustion more often. Psychological stress can successfully disguise itself as physical weakness, impairing concentration and sleep.
An important marker of the condition is the ability to recover quickly after rest. If the energy returns after sleep or a change of activity, we are talking about normal stress. Chronic fatigue, which persists for weeks, requires more serious attention to health and a rethink of the attitude to rest.
"Research shows that the feeling of the limit of possibilities does not always coincide with the actual capabilities of the body. We often get tired not when we run out of energy, but when the brain decides that there are too few of them left," explains Natalia Kucheryavaya. —
According to the expert's observation, people who successfully cope with high workload usually do not have special energy reserves. More often than not, they are better able to allocate resources, maintain a balance between effort and recovery, and — crucially — do not perceive rest as wasted time.
The role of sleep and physical performance
Neurologist Demyanovskaya noted that the quality of sleep critically affects the assessment of one's strength. During the deep sleep phase, the brain is cleared of metabolic products. Reducing rest by even two hours increases the activity of the amygdala and weakens the control of the prefrontal cortex, which makes any load seem unbearable.
The expert called a decrease in heart rate variability a physiological sign of exhaustion. In a healthy person, the intervals between heartbeats are constantly changing, and when burning out, the rhythm becomes too smooth and monotonous. This indicates that the nervous system ceases to effectively cope with the current loads.
"Among the physical indicators that most accurately reflect exhaustion, not only the level of cortisol in the blood plays an important role — this is just one of the stress indicators, but there are others. For example, heart rate variability at rest and immediately after mental stress can serve as an additional marker," the doctor emphasizes.
Paradoxically, long-term effectiveness is supported not by constantly overcoming oneself, but by the ability to stop on time, Natalia Kucheryavaya added. It is regular recovery, realistic expectations from oneself and a flexible attitude towards mistakes that help to maintain motivation without the risk of burnout. In the pursuit of productivity, one should not forget: the brain and body are not bottomless resources, and the ability to tell yourself "stop" in time is not a weakness, but a professional competence.
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