Burnout begins in the brain stem – not in the executive suite
- Olav Bouman
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Why the causes of exhaustion lie deeper than we think – and what we can learn from it.
The day Sabine suddenly started crying was a normal Wednesday.
She sat at her desk, answered the 47th email of the day, drank her third coffee – and when her boss casually asked if she could “quickly prepare something for tomorrow,” the tears flowed.
Sabine wasn't sad. She was empty. Inside and out. And worst of all, she couldn't explain it.
Burnout? No, that didn't suit her. She was strong. Resilient. Loyal. Just... broken.
Burnout: More than a psychological buzzword
Burnout has long since become more than a trending topic at leadership seminars or a hashtag on LinkedIn. It's a neurologically measurable exhaustion of the human system. And anyone who wants to understand why it affects so many people—and why good intentions like "taking more breaks" often don't suffice—must look where it really begins: in the deepest regions of our brain.
The brainstem: seat of survival
The brainstem is the oldest part of our brain. It controls basic functions: breathing, heart rate, sleep-wake rhythm, and flight reflexes. If something goes wrong there, you don't immediately notice it consciously – but your body reacts radically.
In constant stress mode, this area is constantly activated. This means:
The body is on high alert
Blood pressure and heart rate rise
Cortisol and adrenaline flood the organism
Regeneration is systematically suppressed
What this means? Quite simply: Burnout isn't a "breakdown from working too much." It's a physiological state of exhaustion that occurs when the nervous system has been in a state of emergency for too long.
The flaw in the system: Why awareness often comes too late
The prefrontal cortex – the “manager in the brain” – often only notices very late what the brain stem has been signaling for a long time:
Sleep disorders
Irritability
Loss of appetite
retreat
futility
These are all early warning signs from the body – but we ignore them because the cerebrum says: “Pull yourself together!”
Irony of evolution: Our thinking brain is too young to assert itself against the overpowering alarm system of the brain stem – and too proud to get help in time.
The Burnout Myth: “Only the hard-working get it”
Wrong. Burnout doesn't just affect high achievers, but primarily people with a strong sense of responsibility, social orientation, and inner loyalty. That is, people who rarely say "no" out loud – and whose reward system is geared toward recognition rather than status .
From a neuroscientific perspective, they are particularly vulnerable because they:
endure stress longer
rebel less
empathize more
internalize more expectations
That makes them valuable – but also vulnerable.
What really helps? (Spoiler: It's not just yoga)
Of course: breaks, mindfulness, exercise, nutrition – all of these are important. But what is crucial is a deeper rethink:
1. Recognize the body’s early warning signals
Don't wait until you need a vacation - listen to the signals that are expressed physically, not just mentally.
2. Strengthen social connectedness
Oxytocin—the "bonding hormone"—protects the nervous system. People who feel truly connected burn out more slowly.
3. Talk about your exhaustion – before you collapse
Burnout grows in silence. Openness (even within a team!) is the first step toward regulating your internal alarm system.
4. Don’t delegate – de-escalate
Many believe they simply need to "organize properly." But the problem lies not in the structure, but in the stress of the system. One must learn to reduce not only tasks, but also demands.
Conclusion: Burnout is a brain problem, not a character flaw
Those with burnout aren't weak. They're biologically overheated. This is something we should know – and acknowledge. Because the sooner we listen to the language of the brain stem, the better we can control it before things get out of hand.
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