Stress – The “Disease” of the 21st Century

30.3% of working adults in Switzerland between the ages of 16 and 65 know this feeling: total exhaustion, as if someone had pulled the plug. What used to be called a “nervous breakdown” is now known as burnout – and it has long since become a widespread condition.

The Perfidious Cycle

The insidious part: our body fights against overload for a long time before it finally gives in. Like a smartphone in power-saving mode, it gradually shuts down all “non-essential” functions. Creativity? Switched off. Social interactions? Too exhausting. Even the simplest tasks feel like a marathon.

The Silent Warning Signs

Long before total collapse sets in, our system sends out SOS signals:

• Physical level: Chronic fatigue despite sleep, mysterious headaches, an immune system like a leaky umbrella, and a heightened pain sensitivity as if someone turned up the volume.

• Mental level: The brain feels like it’s filled with cotton; you forget names, and even watching Netflix becomes a challenge.

• Social level: Friends feel like energy vampires, conversations become endurance races, and your home turns into a fortress.

The Vicious Cycle in the Brain

What happens neurologically is alarming: our brain’s natural “spam filter” fails. Instead of filtering important from unimportant information, it lets everything through. The brain becomes flooded and switches to emergency mode – primitive reflexes take over control.

The Disrupted Sleep-Wake Rhythm

Burnout shows its most treacherous side at night: although the body is utterly exhausted, sleep simply won’t come. The brain keeps running like an engine in idle. When sleep finally arrives, it’s shallow and unrefreshing. You wake up feeling drained – more tired than when you went to bed.This vicious circle amplifies all other symptoms: without restorative sleep, the overworked nervous system can’t recover, the brain’s filtering function worsens, and the body remains trapped in a state of constant alarm.

The Realization 

Burnout is not a character flaw – it’s a system error. And systems can be repaired – once you know where to begin. AVWF Neurostimulation has become a trusted path to recovery — helping people regain their energy and clarity, sustainably and measurably.

Author: Clinical Optometrist, Specialist for Neurostimulation