Ok so the damage I mention is like "blowing a fuse" in the brain and it happens over the course of a few days and it revolves around long term (many years) dimi

Ok so the damage I mention is like "blowing a fuse" in the brain and it happens over the course of a few days and it revolves around long term (many years) diminished functionality in several core cognitive functions: ability to concentrate, loss of memory function, ability to do several things simultaneously, and inability to muster stress at all, the latter usually a positive quality in the face of problems. There are other symptoms, like a state of constant exhaustion, a reduced immune system and a profound sense of loss, which given the above would seem only natural. I realize this is only anecdotal evidence, but I've seen enough of it in people who are diagnosticized with burn-out to be frustrated that these aspects are not given enough coverage. The description I often hear is that of relatively mild symptoms, bordering on simulation. As for "from 30-40": I don't think I've encountered people with (this kind of) burn-out younger than that. I believe it is because younger people are stronger and more resilient physically in general. That's not to say young people should over-use their resources at will: if they have acquired that habit then they will be at serious risk when older I think. There are probably as many different reasons and dynamic behind every single burn-out as there are people. The thing I wanted to point out was my own observation that the kind of brain damage that I seem to detect among burn-out victims has always been preceded by several consecutive nights without sleep because of stress. It is not not backed by large cohort studies (as far as I know), it's just my observation.