The modern media industry is characterized by a systemic mental health crisis that transcends the individual adaptive capacities of professionals. Occupational stress in journalism is exacerbated by specific factors—the "paradox of media production" where autonomy and passion become risk factors and the "culture of martyrdom." Existing stress management models often overlook these peculiarities, leading to the formation of a stable destructive link between the employee's psycho-emotional state and their professional efficiency. The study aims to theoretically justify and develop a synergistic model of the interaction between occupational stress and the psychological well-being of journalists, as well as to describe the mechanics of the "inefficiency spiral" arising from a deficit of internal resources. The research is based on a systematic analysis of current scientific publications in clinical psychology, occupational psychology, and media studies. The theoretical and methodological foundation comprises S. Hobfoll's Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, M. Deuze's concept of the "media production paradox," and a synergistic approach to assessing psychological well-being. The paper employs methods of synthesis, classification, and conceptual modeling of psychophysiological processes. The study verified the "stress spiral" concept, in which professional inefficiency acts not only as a consequence but also as an active catalyst for further resource depletion. It was found that stress deforms efficiency along three axes: cognitive, emotional-volitional, and physiological. It is substantiated that the media sphere is characterized by the transformation of creative drivers (passion and autonomy) into destructive factors in the absence of organizational stability and psychological support. The scientific necessity of studying journalists' well-being is dictated by the need for a transition from treating clinical consequences to preventive management of resilience resources. The proposed synergistic model requires the integration of cognitive-behavioral, resource-oriented, and existential approaches. Effective psychological assistance in the media sphere is possible only through the deconstruction of the "martyrdom culture" and the recognition of psychological well-being as a core professional resource ensuring the stability of the entire mass communication system.