4 in 10 Belgians Suffer Social Burnout, Psychologist Warns

Four out of ten Belgians are experiencing social burnout — a form of exhaustion caused by overwhelming social obligations — according to a report in Het Laatste Nieuws. Clinical psychologist Yeter Yesilgöz warns that the warning signs are often present long before the condition becomes severe, and that many people fail to recognise them until it is too late.

Social burnout occurs when social obligations — dinners after work, family gatherings, friend meetups — become so numerous and emotionally draining that individuals say “no” too infrequently, or cannot or dare not do so. The result is emotional and mental exhaustion that goes beyond the familiar concept of workplace burnout.

“We often talk about burnout as if it’s only something related to work, but in practice you see that work, private life and our social life blend together,” Yesilgöz told HLN. “If you cross your boundaries in multiple areas, it reinforces each other.”

Warning Signs to Watch For

According to Yesilgöz, the early indicators of social burnout are subtle but recognisable. They include losing enjoyment in social events, feeling irritable, sleeping poorly, a growing desire to isolate oneself, and feeling constantly drained by social interactions.

“That can be pleasant for a while, but when those social interactions start to exhaust you, you sleep badly, you’re irritable, you feel like you want to withdraw — those are alarm signals that you’re already in the red,” she said. “Often those signals have been there for a long time, but they aren’t listened to. And then you reach a point where you think: ‘Oh dear, it’s not working anymore.’”

A Broader Mental Health Crisis

The findings come against a backdrop of worsening mental health across Belgium. According to the Sciensano Health Survey (2023–2024), nearly one in five Belgians experiences a psychological disorder such as anxiety, depression, or sleep disturbance. Anxiety now affects 13% of Belgians, up from 11% in 2018, while depression has risen from 9% to 13% over the same period, as reported by The Brussels Times.

Mental health problems now account for 37% of all long-term disability cases in Belgium, according to the Belga News Agency. The number of people unable to work due to depression or burnout has risen by nearly 50% since 2016. Young people are particularly vulnerable: VRT NWS reported that the number of Belgians under 34 on long-term sick leave for depression or burnout rose by more than 60% in five years.

Why It Happens

Yesilgöz points to a combination of external social pressure and internal difficulty setting boundaries. Many people struggle to say “no” because of childhood patterns, fear of being left alone, and the constant digital stimulation of notifications and messages that blurs the line between work, private life, and social time.

“It starts with awareness,” she explained. “You first have to see what your patterns are. What still fits me and what doesn’t? What do I want to change? Many people can no longer feel their boundaries either. So you first have to learn to feel your ‘no.’”

How to Recover

The psychologist recommends regular self-check-ins: asking whether the life you lead, including your social interactions, still fits who you are today. Learning to say “no” in a connecting way — offering context rather than a blunt refusal — can help preserve relationships while protecting your own energy.

“Real friends understand when you need rest,” Yesilgöz said. “We just have too little faith in that. And if that’s not the case, you have to ask yourself: to what extent can I truly be myself here?”

She also emphasises the importance of genuine rest time — turning off notifications, setting phones to “do not disturb,” and accepting that social capacity varies from person to person.

What’s Next

The growing awareness of social burnout as a distinct phenomenon may encourage more Belgians to recognise symptoms early and seek help. However, experts caution that individual coping strategies alone may not be enough. Without systemic changes — including workplace policies, better access to mental healthcare, and a cultural shift around digital connectivity — the underlying pressures driving social burnout are likely to persist.

As Yesilgöz put it: “Everyone has their own emotional, mental and social capacity. It’s okay to make choices that fit that.”