Enneagram and Burnout: Signs, Causes, and How to Recover

Exploring the connection between the Enneagram and burnout can offer deeper insight into how you experience excessive stress. While all types can burn out, each of them has different stress triggers and responds to unique coping strategies, which is precisely what makes the Enneagram test so useful.

As we discuss the Enneagram and burnout, you’ll learn how to recognize this condition in yourself and develop prevention strategies or a recovery plan tailored to your personality.

What Is Burnout?

Burnout is a state of severe physical fatigue, emotional depletion, and mental exhaustion. Unlike typical tiredness, it is persistent, and resolving it usually involves significant lifestyle changes.

Some common symptoms of burnout include:

• Lack of energy
• Appetite changes
• Loss of motivation
• Sleep disturbances
• Trouble concentrating
• Difficulty making decisions
• Diminished sense of accomplishment
• Cynicism
• Detachment from work, relationships, etc.
• Irritability

If left untreated, burnout can have a detrimental effect on your physical, mental, and emotional well-being, increasing the risk of anxiety, substance abuse, gastrointestinal problems, and other conditions.

Although it is often described as an occupational phenomenon, a study by NTNU researchers suggests that the link between burnout and work is relatively weak. Less than 30% of study participants identified their job as the primary source of burnout.

As the body of research on burnout and its causes grows, burnout is increasingly attributed to depressive stress in everyday life rather than solely to work.

With this in mind, let’s move on to the topic of Enneagram and burnout.

Enneagram and Burnout Patterns for Each Type

Here’s a detailed overview of the Enneagram and burnout patterns for each personality type:

Enneagram 1

The Enneagram Type 1 is also known as The Perfectionist, and their perfectionist tendencies tend to be the primary cause of their burnout. Ones strive for excellence; they have an exceptionally strong sense of responsibility and a moral compass that constantly drives them to do the right thing.

Under immense stress, Ones become even more compelled to act correctly and attain perfection. At the same time, they become increasingly self-critical, which enhances the risk of burnout. Their harsh inner critic bullies them into taking on even more responsibility and pushing themselves beyond their limits to meet their own expectations.

The key to preventing and healing from burnout for Enneagram Type One lies in the ability to celebrate small victories and ask for help when needed. Instead of overexerting themselves to stay on top of everything, Ones should learn to delegate tasks and accept that perfection is an illusion, and good enough is exactly that: good enough.

Enneagram 2

The Enneagram Type 2 (The Helper) is warm, generous, and empathetic. However, their tendency to prioritize others' needs over their own can quickly lead to burnout. This is especially true if their sacrifices go unnoticed, as Twos have a strong desire to feel appreciated and valued.

Twos immediately notice when others need their support, but they rarely, if ever, pay attention to their own needs. And even when they do, they tend to ignore them, as they see self-care as an act of selfishness.

While compassion fatigue is often associated with healthcare roles, even those Twos who pursue different career paths are prone to it. This is because they tend to bend over backwards to please others, even when it drains them.

To prevent and heal from burnout, the Enneagram Two should learn to set healthy boundaries, tap into their own needs, and practice self-care without shame or guilt. Spending time with people who appreciate and support them can also aid their recovery.

Enneagram 3

The Enneagram Type 3 has an unquenchable hunger for success, which is why it is also known as The Achiever. While their drive to excel at what they do often leads them to build successful careers, it also makes Threes susceptible to burnout.

Achievers want to be seen as successful, and they go to great lengths to maintain their social image. Feeling tired or needing rest simply isn’t compatible with how they want others to perceive them. As such, they often ignore the first signs of burnout and continue to push themselves even harder, which only exacerbates their stress.

To prevent burnout or recover from it, Threes should make time for rest in their busy schedules. Instead of seeing it as a roadblock, they should reframe it as a necessary recharge that boosts productivity and enhances their well-being.

Enneagram 4

The Enneagram Type 4 (The Individualist) is highly introspective, authentic, and sensitive. Although Individualists appreciate and seek intense emotional experiences, their emotional intensity can make them susceptible to burnout.

Fours are sensitive to emotional nuances, so they may get stressed out in environments full of conflict, competition, and tension. They also tend to compare themselves to others, which can further exhaust them emotionally. When burned out, they withdraw from other people and focus on the negative aspects of life, adopting a “grass is greener on the other side” mindset.

Developing stronger emotional regulation skills can help Fours prevent and heal from burnout. Practicing gratitude is also an excellent way for Individualists to break out of melancholy and recover from emotional exhaustion.

Enneagram 5

The Enneagram Type 5 (The Investigator) is independent, insightful, and cerebral. Sometimes, however, Fives can become intensely preoccupied with gathering knowledge, analyzing information, and solving problems. And once they get completely stuck in their heads, burnout becomes nearly inevitable.

When severely stressed out, Investigators seek answers, overthink, and isolate themselves from others, often because they don’t want to be seen as incompetent or unknowledgeable. They also disconnect from their physical and emotional needs, which only fuels their burnout.

If your Enneagram test results revealed that you’re a Five, you can prevent and heal from burnout by balancing mental and physical activities (besides, according to the CDC, regular physical activity is great for your brain, too!). Connecting with like-minded people and learning to take action without knowing all the variables can also help you avoid burning out.

Enneagram 6

The Enneagram Type 6 (The Loyalist) is characterized by a strong need for security, which can lead to worry and anxiety. It’s not uncommon for Sixes to struggle with overthinking; when stressed out, they can’t help but think about worst-case scenarios, which only increases the risk of burnout.

A study by Anvari et al. found that neuroticism has the highest impact on job burnout among all Big Five personality traits. And if there’s one Enneagram type that is likely to score high on this trait on the Big Five test, it’s Six; therefore, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that Loyalists tend to be more prone to burnout than most other types.

All Sixes, regardless of their Enneagram wing, can prevent burnout and heal from it by learning not to give in to anxious thoughts. Surrounding themselves with people they can rely on can also be extremely helpful for this Enneagram type.

Enneagram 7

Also known as The Enthusiast, the Enneagram Type 7 is optimistic and spontaneous. Sevens desire to live life to the fullest, which makes them open to new ideas and possibilities. However, they are no strangers to the fear of missing out, which is typically what triggers their burnout.

Enthusiasts are prone to overcommitment, and the more stressed out they are, the more they seek stimulation to distract themselves from negative feelings. They often stretch themselves too thin without even realizing it.

To prevent and recover from burnout, the Enneagram Seven should learn to set priorities in life instead of saying “yes” to every opportunity that comes their way. Embracing stillness, rather than always being on the go, can also help this type avoid burning out.

Enneagram 8

The Enneagram Type 8 (The Challenger) is confident, resourceful, and decisive. Eights strive to stay on top of things at all times, and while this makes them exceptional leaders, their relentless drive to maintain control can also cause them to burn out.

Eights often take on too much responsibility, which eventually leads to excessive stress and tension. When burned out, they refuse to ask for help and support. Instead, they pressure themselves to handle everything all alone, which only worsens the situation.

Therefore, the key to preventing and healing from burnout for the Enneagram 8 lies in learning to delegate tasks and sharing the load with others.

Enneagram 9

People who identify with the Enneagram Type 9 are also known as Peacemakers because of their desire to maintain peace and harmony. Nines would rather bottle their feelings up than risk upsetting others by expressing them; such conflict avoidance makes them susceptible to emotional exhaustion and burnout.

When burned out, Nines tend to retreat from other people and disconnect from their own needs. Because they keep their feelings to themselves, it’s not unusual for them to display passive-aggressive behaviors under stress. Some may even lash out at others instead of finding healthy ways to express anger and other emotions.

To prevent and overcome burnout, the Enneagram Nine should practice open and honest communication. Additionally, it may be helpful to reframe conflict as an opportunity for growth and understanding rather than a threat to their relationships.

When to Seek Professional Help for Burnout

You should seek professional help for burnout if it interferes with your daily life and doesn’t resolve with rest, self-care, or lifestyle changes. If you experience chronic exhaustion, intense anxiety or depression, difficulty focusing or making decisions due to burnout, it’s in your best interest to talk to a professional.

While the Enneagram isn’t a diagnostic tool, it is a powerful instrument for gaining self-awareness that can complement other techniques for treating burnout, including therapy. Specifically, it can help you understand the root causes of burnout and identify suitable ways to recover from it, as it manifests differently in each personality type.

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Key Takeaways

Hopefully, this guide to the Enneagram and burnout helped you better understand how to prevent stress from getting out of control based on your personality and what to do if it starts affecting your life.

Before you leave, let’s reiterate the key points we covered today:

• Burnout is a condition marked by persistent physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion.
• Every Enneagram type tends to experience burnout when their core personality trait is pushed to extremes (e.g., Perfectionists become too focused on attaining perfection, Helpers help others at their own expense, Achievers overwork themselves, etc.)
• If burnout is taking a toll on your everyday life and well-being, your best option is to seek professional help.

Enneagram and Burnout FAQ