Burnout is a reaction to chronic work stress. It affects not only motivation and productivity, but also health. Here are 5 warning signs from the body that indicate a toxic work environment:

Sleep problems. Insomnia, shallow and intermittent sleep often accompany burnout, especially in workers with high emotional stress or monotonous work. Anxious thoughts prevent you from falling asleep even when you are very tired.

Excess weight. Chronic stress can trigger emotional overeating and uncontrolled appetite as a way to compensate. Research confirms the link between burnout and weight gain, as well as decreased control over eating.

Headaches and migraines. Increased workload and low job satisfaction can cause frequent and debilitating tension headaches and migraines, especially in young professionals struggling to cope with work overload. Migraines, in turn, can worsen burnout, creating a vicious cycle.

Frequent colds. Burnout weakens the immune system by reducing the activity of immune cells that fight viruses. This makes the body more susceptible to respiratory infections, and colds may occur more frequently and last longer.

Gut problems. Burnout-induced stress can manifest itself as bloating, cramping, unstable stool, heartburn, and nausea due to the effect of stress hormones on intestinal motility and microflora.

It is important to distinguish burnout from depression!

Both conditions have similar symptoms, such as fatigue and loss of interest. However, burnout is usually work-related and does not deprive a person of the ability to enjoy other areas of life, unlike depression, which can occur without apparent cause and is accompanied by anhedonia.

Resource: doctor.rambler.ru