Psychologists Herbert Freudenberger and Gail North have theorized that the burnout process can be divided the into 12 phases, which are not necessarily followed sequentially:[1]
A compulsion to prove oneself
Working harder
Neglecting one's own needs
Displacement of conflicts (the person does not realize the root cause of the distress)
Revision of values (friends or hobbies are completely dismissed)
Denial of emerging problems (cynicism and aggression become apparent)
Withdrawal (reducing social contacts to a minimum, becoming walled off; alcohol or other substance abuse may occur)
Behavioral changes become obvious to others
Inner emptiness
Depression
Burnout syndrome
