Have you been feeling stuck in a rut, hopeless, or all-consumingly exhausted? Depression and burnout are both mental health issues that can have similar impacts on your emotional and physical state. However, they’re different conditions and should be managed accordingly.
What is burnout?
Burnout is a response to chronic stress that has not been successfully coped with. Typically, we associate burnout with the workplace, but it can happen in other situations where there’s a constant stressor. For example, people might feel burned out after taking care of a chronically ill loved one or parenting a difficult child. The jobs that typically see the most burnout involve high stress levels and “helping” others, which can include:
- healthcare professionals
- teachers
- social workers
- therapists
- correctional officers
Symptoms of burnout include:
- feelings of exhaustion, tiredness, and melancholy
- reduced performance
- a sense of cynicism
- feeling unable to cope with work
- detachment from work-related (or caretaking) responsibilities
Unlike depression, which can affect various aspects of life, burnout is specifically related to work-related or responsibility-related stressors. It usually happens when someone faces too many demands at work, feels unsupported by higher-ups, and lacks control over their tasks. Prolonged exposure to these stressors can lead to emotional exhaustion, which makes it difficult to find motivation to continue working. Those with burnout might experience physical symptoms such as pain, headaches, gastrointestinal issues, and changes in their sleep patterns.
What is depression?
On the other hand, depression is a serious diagnosable mental health condition. It’s defined by prolonged feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in what they once loved to do. Those with depression often struggle to function day-to-day; they usually find it hard to concentrate, make decisions, or even just get out of bed. Other emotional symptoms of depression include:
- feelings of pessimism, guilt, emptiness, or worthlessness
- irritability or restlessness
- difficulty concentrating
- self-harm
- thoughts of death
Typically, people suffering from depression also have physical symptoms. These can include:
- fatigue
- general aches and pains
- weight loss or gain
- gastrointestinal issues
- headaches
- insomnia or hypersomnia
One of the keys doctors use to diagnose depression is its duration. To be diagnosed with clinical depression, a person’s symptoms must persist for at least two weeks and significantly interfere with their ability to work, study, sleep, eat, and enjoy activities.
Key differences between burnout and depression
Duration
Burnout has no set timeline, but it’s tied to a prolonged exposure to stress. It can last for as long as someone is in the situation that’s stuck them in their stress cycle. Symptoms of depression should persist for at least two weeks to be diagnosed, and many people experience long episodes of depression throughout their lives if it goes untreated.
Root causes
Depression can be caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. Trauma, chronic stress, or a family history of depression can increase the risk. Often, those in a depressive episode won’t know exactly what caused it. Burnout, on the other hand, is typically tied only to the circumstances and stressor. Its cause is usually identifiable, and changing the external environment will change a person’s feelings of burnout.
Burnout can lead to depression
But not vice versa. Those who have burnout might never have depression. In people who are more prone to depressive episodes, a persistently stressful job may trigger a depressive episode.
Are you suffering from depression or burnout?
If you feel you might be suffering from a mental health issue causing you to feel hopeless, checked out, and exhausted, it’s time to seek help. The two conditions are similar and can happen simultaneously, but only a therapist can help you discover the best treatment plan. In therapy, you’ll learn how to handle stress and cope with negative thought patterns.
To learn more about the difference between depression and burnout, please reach out to us.