Burnout

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Burnout has been recognised by the World Health Organization as a chronic condition, and cases have been increasing at an alarming rate over recent years. For a long time, burnout was a term used casually to describe feeling physically and emotionally run down. It was often dismissed as modern jargon — something vague, subjective, or transient.

That has now changed.

Burnout has been formally included in the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases, making it a globally recognised medical condition. It is defined as chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed, and is characterised by persistent energy depletion, increased mental distance from one’s work, feelings of negativity or cynicism related to one’s job, and reduced professional efficacy.

This classification matters. Burnout is not a temporary state, nor is it limited to people working in 

obviously high-stress environments. For many, it has become a baseline — a background condition rather than an acute episode. It is not something we dip into and recover from; it becomes the backdrop to daily life. Our base temperature. Our background noise. The way things are. The way many people are living.

Most people who develop stress-related illness are not weak, unmotivated, or failing to cope. They are often the opposite. They are capable, conscientious, driven, and responsible. They function well — until the body begins to signal overload.

TUPS describes a pattern in which the nervous system remains in a state of ongoing activation, long after it is needed. Over time, this pattern becomes biologically costly.

People with a TUPS™ profile often:

• Live with a constant sense of urgency or pressure
• Hold high internal standards, even when they do not identify as perfectionists
• Struggle to slow down, rest, or disengage mentally
• Appear outwardly competent while feeling internally strained
• Ignore or override early physical and emotional warning signs

This pattern is common among high-functioning individuals and professionals, and it frequently goes unnoticed — until health begins to deteriorate.

Stress itself is not the problem. Unregulated, chronic stress is.

When the stress response remains switched on for prolonged periods, it impacts:

• Cardiovascular health
• Immune function
• Hormonal balance
• Metabolic regulation
• Mood, sleep, and concentration

Over time, this contributes to burnout, anxiety, depression, and a range of stress-related medical conditions.

TUPS™ is not a relaxation programme. It is a re-regulation programme.

The work focuses on helping individuals:

• Recognise their personal stress pattern
• Understand how urgency and perfectionism operate biologically
• Interrupt automatic stress responses
• Restore nervous system balance in practical, realistic ways

The programme is structured, time-efficient, and designed to integrate into real life rather than compete with it.

Individuals who complete the TUPS™ programme commonly report:

• A measurable reduction in stress-related symptoms
• Improved emotional regulation and mental clarity
• Increased effectiveness without increased effort
• Improved sleep, energy, and physical wellbeing
• Reduced reliance on maladaptive coping strategies

Post-programme assessments consistently show significant reductions in anxiety and depressive symptoms.

TUPS™ is particularly relevant in knowledge-based environments where high performance is valued and sustained pressure is normalised.

Organisational benefits include:

• Reduced burnout and absenteeism
• Improved retention of skilled employees
• Increased effectiveness rather than simple output
• Protection of intellectual and human capital
• A measurable, cost-effective approach to workforce wellbeing

• As an individual clinical intervention
• As a structured organisational programme
• In an online or blended format

The approach is adapted to suit individual and organisational contexts.

Many people seek help only once their bodies force a pause. TUPS™ offers an opportunity to intervene earlier — before stress becomes illness. If you would like to explore whether the TUPS™ programme is appropriate for you or your organisation, please look at the website www.tups.co. 

If you would like to explore whether TUPS is appropriate for your organisation, please send an email to mandy@medfem.co.za