Modern life is a balancing act for so many of us, what with work, school, family, friends, housekeeping, hobbies, and other responsibilities. It’s no surprise that nearly 79% of American workers experience career-related burnout and close to 60% of college students undergo academic burnout. But how can you tell if you’re going through burnout or depression? Although depression and burnout can have similar symptoms, knowing the differences can help you figure out the ideal treatment plan for you.
Is it burnout or depression?
Both burnout and depression can prompt feelings of extreme exhaustion, sadness, and emptiness. These mental health issues typically also reduce someone’s ability to perform their usual routines or responsibilities at their best.
Diving deeper, burnout tends to make people feel listless and overwhelmed, as if “burned out” of their usual motivation or performance ability. While most people experience burnout as a result of work, burnout could also arise from school, caregiving, or another stressful and prolonged life situation.
In comparison, while depression can also prompt feelings of deep sadness or listlessness, it’s not typically linked to specific stressors. Work, school, caregiving, or other life situations might exacerbate depression, but are not usually the sole cause. The causes of depression are usually more complex and rooted in traumatic life events, genetics, and chemical imbalances within the brain.
If untreated, burnout can lead to depression, but it is possible to have one and not the other.
What are the symptoms of burnout?
If you’re trying to determine if you or a loved one have burnout or depression, knowing more about the symptoms of both could help you figure out which one they’re experiencing and how best to help. If you’re still unsure about which one you or someone close to you is undergoing, remember that you can always reach out for help from experienced, non-judgemental professionals like those at Advantage.
In addition to experiencing extreme tiredness, sadness, and emptiness, people experiencing burnout might have these symptoms:
- Feelings of alienation or disconnection from others
- Reduced performance ability in work, school, caregiving, or other aspects of life
- Irritability
- Insomnia
- Feeling badly about themself
- Physical pains such as headaches or stomaches
- Cynicism
- Reduced empathy
- Feeling afraid or constantly worrying
What are the symptoms of depression?
Here’s a list of symptoms that may indicate someone is experiencing depression:
- Deep sadness
- Loss of interest in normal activities
- Feeling unable to do anything or feeling unable to stop fidgeting
- Overeating or not eating enough
- Oversleeping or experiencing insomnia
- Negative self-talk
- Feeling worthless or guilty
- Emptiness
- Thoughts of self-harm or suicide
What are the similarities between burnout and depression?
The main commonalities between burnout and depression are despondency, exhaustion, and reduced ability to perform one’s life responsibilities with their usual quality or speed. But there are other similarities too, which is why it can be difficult to distinguish between burnout or depression. These similarities include:
- Physical symptoms: Both depression and burnout can lead to other physical health issues, like insomnia, oversleeping, headaches, stomachaches, overeating, or not eating enough.
- Mental health: Burnout and depression may both prompt mental health symptoms. These can include feeling badly about yourself, feeling guilty, or having persistent negative thoughts.
- Duration: Neither burnout or depression have a set amount of time that they last. Individuals may experience depression or burnout for weeks, months, or years.
- Other mental health concerns: Both depression and anxiety are linked with other mental health issues like anxiety or mood disorders. It’s important to understand that although there are connections between many mental health concerns, they do not always cause or develop a link to one another.
- Treatment options: The most vital thing to remember about both depression and burnout is that they are both treatable. Whether through therapy, medication, non-invasive procedures like TMS, lifestyle changes, or some combination, you can find relief from your depression or burnout.
What are the differences between burnout and depression?
The major distinction between depression and burnout is that burnout is typically caused by a stressful and ongoing situation, such as work, school, or caregiving. If you reduce or eliminate the stress caused by this area of your life and find that your feelings of emptiness, sadness, or overwhelm lessen, that indicates you have burnout. Depression, on the other hand, doesn’t usually have a specific cause, although it can be made worse by stressful life events.
There can also be some subtle differences in symptoms between depression and burnout. Studies show that depression typically causes greater feelings of sadness, worthlessness, oversleeping, difficulty finishing tasks, and oversleeping. By contrast, burnout might lead people to disconnect more from their social circles and feel less empathetic.
How can you improve burnout and depression?
Experiencing burnout and depression can be a lot to manage, but there is hope. Whether you’re going through depression, burnout, or both, there are many actions you can take to start feeling better:
- Give yourself breaks: Take time to rest and recuperate from your job, school, or other responsibilities. Whether this means making time for your hobbies or just relaxing on the sofa, giving yourself the permission and space to rest can help you feel revitalized and more like your usual self.
- Set boundaries: Strive to find a balance with your career, academics, and the other aspects in your life. For instance, you might turn off email notifications from work or school during designated hours so that you can be more present when you’re off-duty.
- Seek out connection: Don’t be afraid to rely on your social support network. Your friends and family want to spend time with you, even if you’re going through difficult times.
- Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness practices can help you to be more present in the moment rather than worrying about the past or future. Explore learning techniques like mindful breathing, meditation, or yoga.
- Optimize overall health: See if you can improve your physical or mental health in other ways. Our bodies and minds are complex ecosystems, and improving one aspect of your health can help optimize the others, too. Make sure, for instance, that you’re eating healthy and exercising regularly.
When to seek professional help
While lifestyle changes can improve burnout or depression, they may not always be enough. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from professional mental health specialists if you experience any of the following:
- If practicing self-care hasn’t helped
- If symptoms persist for weeks
- If burnout or depression is harming your career, academic life, relationships, or daily ability to function
- If you’re feeling hopeless or having thoughts of self-harm
Here at Advantage Mental Health, we understand that depression, burnout, or both can feel overwhelming, but we’re here to offer help without adding to your stress. Contact us today to learn more about our personalized treatment plans.
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