A mental state of physical and emotional exhaustion; an anxiety disorder that is a stress reaction to a person's reduced capability to cope with the demands of his or her occupations. Symptoms of burnout include tiredness, poor sleeping pattern, irritability and reduced performance at work; increased susceptibility to physical illness and abuse of alcohol and addictive drugs can also occur. Treatment can be difficult and may require a change to a less stressful lifestyle, counselling and, in severe cases, psychotherapy and carefully supervised use of ANXIOLYTIC or ANTIDEPRESSANT drugs.