Dr. Herbert Freudenberger

DR. HERBERT FREUDENBERGER

The global syndrome of burnout was first discovered and studied by Herbert J. Freudenberger (1926–1999) a German-born American psychoanalyst. 

Freudenberger coined the term Burnout to describe symptoms of exhaustion and mental malaise. He delved into the underlying roots of burnout and outlined proven methods to alleviate the condition. He published "Burnout: The High Cost of High Achievement" in 1980. It’s the standard reference for the phenomenon. Freudenberger was a practitioner, editor, theoretician, and author. His legacy lies with the significant contribution to understanding and treating stress, chronic fatigue, and substance abuse.

 EXECUTIVE BURNOUT 

Burnout is the product of unremitting stress and demands. Sometimes we learn to live with dysfunction, but many times we succumb to burnout. It's a tragedy of our times. People too often fall ill or even die from burnout.

What happens? The patient’s emotional circuits become increasingly overloaded from constant excessive demands on their energy, responsibilities, and resources leading to the individual finding themselves screeching to an inexplicable halt.