While the features of burnout may mirror symptoms of depression, burnout is not a diagnosable, clinical condition like depression is. Burnout is more a state in which people experience exhaustion and increased cynicism that may lead to lack of personal accomplishment.1,2 If burnout persists, it is possible that such feelings can manifest from exhaustion into full-blown clinical depression with more severe symptoms.
Burnout Symptoms & Risk Factors
Burnout is a word used to describe a state of emotional, social, and physical exhaustion. It’s typically linked to work or job stressors, but any aspect of life can leave you feeling burnt out including parenting or caregiving. When we experience burnout, it can feel big and all-consuming.
Anyone can experience burnout at any point in their life, but people with high stress or emotion-focused jobs may be at a higher risk for burnout. With burnout, you may start to notice you have a negative attitude towards clients, consumers or colleagues, leading to a loss of why you took the job in the first place.2 When people don’t feel accomplished, productivity may be affected, which in return, perpetuates a cycle of workplace dissatisfaction.2
Other common signs and symptoms of burnout include:
- Lack of motivation or interest
- Irritability
- Mental fatigue
- Poor work performance
- Withdrawal
- Sleep issues
- Feelings of intense pressure
- Feeling unaccomplished
- Having escape fantasies
- Generally feeling unwell
- Identity issues
- Cynicism
Risk Factors for Burnout
Lack of support and direction at work are common causes of burnout.
Additional risk factors for burnout may include:
- Working too much with no clear boundaries between personal/work life
- Lack of support in the workplace, at home or with caregiving responsibilities
- Feeling like you’re being judged or scrutinized by superiors
- Micromanagement
- Unclear values at work
- Feeling like you lost track of your own goals
- Being pushed in several different directions
- Being in a state of fear or constantly being threatened at work
- Difficulty managing interpersonal relationships at work
- Frustration with “the system” or governing bodies that impact your daily work
- Secondary and vicarious trauma responses
Depression Symptoms & Risk Factors
Depression includes symptoms such as loss of interest or pleasure in doing things and a noticeably different change in perspective and experience. There are many signs and symptoms of depression. For example, what used to bring someone joy may not have the same effect on someone while they are depressed.
Depression may also cause physical symptoms like chronic fatigue and increase or loss of appetite. Depression can be extremely debilitating, causing some individuals to isolate and lose the ability to function. It can impact many important areas of functioning, including social relationships, work and/or school.
Common signs and symptoms of depression include:
- Hopelessness
- Feelings of emptiness
- Guilt
- Low energy
- Restlessness or moving around more than usual
- Observable changes in behavior
- Irritability
- Lack of self worth
- Feelings of physical pain
- General thoughts about death, dying or suicidal ideation
Risk Factors for Depression
Anyone can be at risk for depression but some individuals are at a greater risk than others.
Risk factors for depression may include:
- Family history and genetics
- You own mental health history
- Increase or change in substance use
- Unresolved grief, feelings around loss
- Sudden life changes
- A big move or change in jobs
- Breakup or divorce
- Anyone with a history of adverse childhood experiences or trauma history
Burnout vs Depression: Key Differences
While there are overlapping symptoms of depression and burnout, such as loss of interest, low mood and difficulty concentrating, there are also major differences.1 To meet criteria for depression, someone must exhibit a combination of symptoms lasting at least two weeks.3 On the other hand, there is no strict timeline to determine what meets criteria for burnout.
People who are experiencing burnout, especially at less severe levels, can often continue functioning, where a key differentiator between the two is that, in depression, there is interference with functioning and often a loss of hope for the future. Suicidal thinking can also occur with depression, which makes it critical to always ask depressed people if they are having thoughts of killing themselves. – Bernadette Melnyk PhD, APRN-CNP, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN, Vice President for Health Promotion, University Chief Wellness Officer, and Professor and Dean of the College of Nursing at The Ohio State University
With burnout, there is an identifiable cause to reference why and where symptoms are coming from. Depression, however, may come without or without warning signs and can strictly be due to a chemical imbalance inside your brain. Bottom line, burnout will not be spontaneous and it takes a combination of time and major stressors to get to the point of losing interest in your career or caretaking role.
As complex as burnout is, it can potentially be resolved more quickly than clinical depression. When stressors or triggers are addressed or removed relating to burnout, negative symptoms are likely to resolve. Burnout and depression are both unique experiences for each individual but depression may require medications and long-term, professional treatment.
While those experiencing burnout or depression may have overlapping symptoms, here are some key differences that set them apart:
How Long Symptoms Usually Last
There is no definite timeline for burnout, but you can expect symptoms to be present for at least weeks to months in order for you to consider it to be burnout. Similarly, depressive episodes must last at least two weeks but can last months or years. There are many types of depression depending on severity of symptoms.
Causes
While prolonged stress may play a role in causing depression, removing the stressor doesn’t exactly “cure” the depression. Depression can be circumstantial or genetic and passed down through families. Additionally, burnout is more complex than just normal stress; burnout affects people’s sense of purpose and their self-worth or personal significance.4
Treatment Options
Burnout is best managed through talking with others, making time to relax, or by addressing the conflict within you. With depression, psychotherapy and medication management is typically recommended due to the heavy impact depression can have on someone’s life.
Can Burnout Lead to Depression?
Unexamined burnout may certainly lead to depression if left unresolved.1,2 Burnout is an emotionally and physically exhaustive state that can mirror depressive symptoms like fatigue and general unwellness.5 Burnout and depression do have a relationship. They are linked by the experience of stress due to lack of control over one’s environment.5
Burnout is feeling emotionally/physically exhausted as well as out of control primarily due to what’s happening at work. Depression is feeling emotionally/physically exhausted as well as out of control primarily due to what’s happening in one’s life. If a person is feeling burnout due to work stress, that can bleed into depression impacting all settings. This is true because our work identities comprise a huge percentage not only of our personal identities but also of our personal self-worth. What impacts one setting can impact the other if proper supports are not put in place. – Dr. Jacquelyn Rabouin, MFT, PhD, Psychotherapist at UC Santa Cruz
Treatment Options for Burnout and Depression
There are many ways one can address burnout and manage their symptoms of depression. Self care, therapy, medication, meditation, exercise and taking a break are all positive ways to cope with symptoms. For burnout specifically, having an outlet or an activity planned for after work may help you to balance out where you are putting all of your energy.
Just like with depression, it is important to do the work of forming new habits. Burnout-focused therapy may include stress management, values work and distress tolerance skills. Cognitive and behavioral approaches are widely accepted as the first line of treatments for depression and burnout.
When to Seek Professional Help
It is a good time to seek professional help if you are feeling mentally exhausted for any reason. It is important to work with a professional who can give you a proper diagnosis or see a doctor who can rule out serious medical conditions.
Experiencing any thoughts about self-harm, death, or suicide is a big warning that you or your loved one needs more support than they currently have. For those in the helping field, there is an increased risk of suicide due to professional burnout and working a high-stakes career that involve end-of-life situations.6
Some reputable resources to help with suicidal thoughts include:
- Calling 1-800-273-TALK(8255) to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline)
- Texting the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741)
- Calling your local city or county crisis helpline
- Crisis Text Line: Text “DESERVE” TO 741-741
- Lifeline Crisis Chat: Live Online Messaging
- Call or text 1-877-870-HOPE(4673) to reach volunteers at Samaritans
Final Thoughts on Burnout vs Depression
While burnout and depression may have overlapping symptoms, they are separate conditions with a few major differences. It is important to remember that depression is a diagnosable disorder whereas burnout is more of a state or condition that is typically more easily resolvable and preventable. With both depression and burnout, it is important to reach out for support and address symptoms and conflicts before your condition worsens. These are both very common experiences in life and can be managed with the right tools.
For Further Reading
Burnout vs Depression Infographics
