Freudenberger's 12 stages

1. The Compulsion to Prove Oneself; an obsessive need to perform and achieve or care; tends to affect conscientious people  who show enthusiasm and who accept responsibility 
2. Working Harder; difficulty winding down, organisational expectations out of control and unreasonable or unfair
3. Neglecting Their Needs; poor sleep and diet, start to "shut off" from others, increase of ill health absence may or may not begin
4. Displacement of Conflicts;  problems tend to be avoided, a feeling of anxiety or being threatened
5. Revision of Values; values become distorted, friends and family opinions about "overwork" are dismissed, hobbies dwindle, work is only focus.
6. Denial of Emerging Problems; becoming increasingly intolerant and consider colleagues or clients or patients as stupid, demanding or uncooperative, cynical approach with some aggressive or intolerant behaviours,  problems are viewed as caused by time pressure and workload ( which in many respect will be  true) but not at all as something pathological happening to the self that needs to be addressed urgently
7. Withdrawal;   social life has dwindled and may disappear, higher chance of reliance on inappropriate forms of stress relief, needing to take repeated time off sick may arise
8. Odd Behavioural Changes; other people start being concerned about some behavioural changes
9. Depersonalization;  start to view no one and nothing as having any value, extreme cynicism, no longer even acknowledge or see ones own needs
10. Inner Emptiness; feeling empty inside and to overcome this, look for activity such as overeating, sex, alcohol, or drugs; activities are often exaggerated.   a deep feeling of hollowness and further reliance on activities to try and fill this - overeating, sex, alcohol, drugs, shopping, computer games etc
11. Depression; feeling lost and unsure, exhausted, future feels bleak and dark. feeling low mood, worn out, future feels empty 
12. Burnout Syndrome; can include total mental and physical collapse, prolonged sick leave, career disintegration possible ( if it hasn't happened already

This model of burnout starts with a certain set of personal attributes. However what Freudenberger does not indicate within these stages is that when combined with a dysfunctional work situation, a career mismatch or other significant work related stressors the burnout descent can lead into or overlap a frank mental illness.

This process is entirely preventable, diagnosable, treatable and curable.

However, once burnout reaches the mid or lower levels in these twelve stages ,the time frame for recovery can reach years.
The cost to the organisation, the health services, colleagues, family and the individual is high