Rise Men’s Health adds Burnout as a Medical Symptom to Help Diagnosis Low Testosterone

Can burnout lead to low testosterone?

The WHO (World Health Organization) now considers “burnout” a legitimate medical diagnosis. (Finally!)

Our patients talk about this feeling quite frequently. Almost daily we have discussions with new patients that are feeling – Drained or have no energy to do anything, (the most prevalent symptom that you could be suffering from Low Testosterone) but over the last year, patients have been telling us that “Burn-out” from long hours, high stress/pressure situations at work have been mentally taxing.

This is why we have added “burn-out” to our symptom list for Low Testosterone.

Do you experience any of the following Low Testosterone Symptoms?

• Burn-out & Low Energy
• Drained & Lacking Motivation?
• Decreased Libido and Stress
• Feeling Off, Run Down, Easily Irritable?
• Increased Body Fat

On a personal note, I’m actually relieved this is classified as a condition as I feel it several times a year….

If you would like to discuss burn-out or Low Testosterone symptoms, treatment options, or care in general – please give us a call at (817) 900-0304 or schedule your appointment at our office here.

In reading through the handbook, International Classification of Diseases, or the ICD-11, under section QD85: “Problems associated with employment or unemployment” – this could not be any more official…

Burn-out Description

Burn-out is a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It is characterized by three dimensions: 1) feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion; 2) increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job; and 3) reduced professional efficacy. Burn-out refers specifically to phenomena in the occupational context and should not be applied to describe experiences in other areas of life.

Also, one note to call out in referenced Burn-out symptom – our Physician’s Assistant and Staff will first rule things like anxiety or mood disorders. This diagnosis is limited to work environments, and shouldn’t be applied to other life situations.

Exclusions

Adjustment disorder (6B43)

Disorders specifically associated with stress (6B40-6B4Z)

Anxiety or fear-related disorders (6B00-6B0Z)

Mood disorders (6A60-6A8Z)

We will all symptoms into consideration to ensure that our Low T treatment plan fits your situation.

Researchers have been studying burnout for decades, but so what.

What exactly is Burnout?

(Or is it burn-out, burn out, burn…out)

Over the next four decades, hundreds of studies have been produced. Luckily, Psychologist Herbert Freudenberger is credited (and found the time) for saving us all the headache of researching this topic on our own in – the Study of the state of burnout. I’ve consolidated the finds into a brief summary below:

1. Work-life Imbalance

   Over time, long hours finishing a project, end of quarter escalations. Micromanaging boss demanding that you work extra hours. This imbalance could lead to unnecessary stress or even depression due to the feeling that you are unable to do anything outside of work.

2. Lack of Control 

   An inability to influence decisions that affect your job or resources you efficiently do your work, which could lead to unnecessary pressure or fear of the unknown.

3. Unclear Job Expectations

   Poor management or unclear KPI (key performance indicator) – Unsure about the degree of authority you have or what your management or direct reports expect from you, which in turn could lead to fear, stress, or anxiety.

4. Long hours or Overtime

   Requiring you to remain focused on the task at hand or ‘dialed in’ for hours could decrease your energy levels to the point of fatigue and job burnout.

5. Lack of social support

   Even outside of work – if you feel isolated at work and in your personal life, the lack of support could lead to stress.

6. Dysfunctional Workplace Dynamics

   Office Bully, a micromanaging boss, inexperienced management.

The Mayo Clinic put together a solid questionnaire to help us understand burn-out:

• Have you become cynical or critical at work?
• Do you drag yourself to work and have trouble getting started?
• Have you become irritable or impatient with co-workers, customers, or clients?
• Do you lack the energy to be consistently productive?
• Find it hard to concentrate?
• Do you lack satisfaction from your achievements?
• Do you feel disillusioned about your job?
• Are you using food, drugs, or alcohol to feel better or to simply not feel?
• Have your sleep habits changed?
• Are you troubled by unexplained headaches, stomach or bowel problems, or other physical complaints?

If you would like to discuss burn-out or Low Testosterone symptoms, treatment options, or care in general – please give us a call at (817) 900-0304 or schedule your appointment at our office here.

In closing, Dr. Freudenberger states in his research that burn-out is:

“one of the most widely discussed mental health problems in today’s society.”

I could not agree more and the world is now able to effectively treat burn-out and hopefully make work (and life) well balanced and more enjoyable.

Medically peer reviewed by Dr. Kenneth LeCroy, MD. Written by Our Editorial Team.

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Give us a call at (817) 900-0304 or sign-up through our online intake process if you would like to get started with treatment!

If you do have low testosterone it can be easily treated and monitored via telehealth with the same level of care as you would receive in our traditional clinic setting in Roanoke, Texas. We currently care for men in Texas, California, and North Carolina. Give us a call if you have any questions!