People need emotional support, and an unsatisfactory personal encounter combined with job frustration can set you up for an emotional meltdown. Emotional Withdrawal People suffering from job burnout tend to withdraw from social interactions. This tendency is most pronounced among helping professionals who often become aloof and inaccessible to the very people they are expected to help. People often defend themselves against adverse job situations by emotionally withdrawing. But this short-term solution only accelerates burnout because a strong social support system acts like a buffer against burnout.
People caught in the burnout cycle withdraw.
By cutting themselves off from friends and colleagues they deprive themselves of the support they desperately need. Emotional withdrawal is common among people in the service professions. Others such as managers and team leaders who work closely with people often suffer similar symptoms. A natural response is indifference to the people's feelings and problems. Others will respond to the drain on their emotions with hostility.