Burnout and depression can feel strikingly similar. Both depression and burnout can cause feelings of mental and physical exhaustion, challenges with focus, decreased motivation, and a sense of emotional disconnection. These overlapping symptoms often make it difficult to pinpoint the difference.
On top of that, living abroad, working long hours, or feeling unsure about how to access mental health support because you live in a remote area can make the emotional toll of these symptoms even more challenging to manage.
Despite the similarities between depression and burnout, several factors set them apart.
What Is Burnout?
Burnout tends to build slowly. It’s a response to ongoing, external stress that typically comes from work or some other demanding role in your life.
Commonly reported signs and symptoms of burnout may include: [1]
- Feeling drained emotionally and physically
- Struggling with focus or decision-making
- Managing tasks that once felt easy may now take more effort
- Reduced performance at work
- Cynicism toward your work or other demanding roles in your life
- Low tolerance of frustration
- Sleep disturbances
- Headaches and muscle tension
- Loss of empathy toward others
Research [2] demonstrates that burnout tends to involve less social withdrawal than depression, but overall, it does involve a greater drop in empathy for others. The good news, however, is that burnout often improves when the stressful situation (be it work or another life demand) changes in some way or becomes more manageable.
What Is Depression?
Depression, on the other hand, is a mental health condition with specific diagnostic criteria. It is officially known as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).
Symptoms [3] of depression include:
- Feelings of sadness, hopelessness, emptiness, or despair (low mood)
- Loss of interest in once enjoyable activities
- Changes in appetite or weight
- Sleep disturbances like sleeping too little or too much
- Decreased energy or fatigue
- Restlessness
- Reduced self-worth
- Social withdrawal
- Difficulties focusing, making decisions, or initiating everyday tasks
- Recurring suicidal ideation
- Body aches, headaches, cramps, or digestive issues
To receive an MDD diagnosis, you need to experience at least five of these symptoms within the same two-week period. One of the five symptoms must be either a persistent low mood or loss of interest in once-enjoyed activities.
Key Differences Between Burnout and Depression
As you can see, burnout and depression have several overlapping symptoms and can feel alike. But they do have their differences.
Here are a few key differentiations to consider when evaluating whether you’re experiencing burnout or depression:
- Burnout develops in response to an external stressor. Depression can appear without any apparent trigger.
- Burnout typically impacts a specific role or life environment, while depression influences most areas of life.
- Burnout often leads to exhaustion, cynicism, reduced effectiveness, and a loss of empathy. Primary depression symptoms are persistent low mood, loss of pleasure, and feelings of worthlessness.
Burnout and depression can occur at the same time. However, depression does not directly cause or lead to burnout. Burnout, on the other hand, can increase the likelihood of someone developing MDD symptoms.
Regain Control Over Depression and Burnout
If you’re an expat, busy professional, or live in a remote area where mental health resources feel out of reach, online therapy is an accessible option for helping you identify the root causes of your symptoms.
At Global Online Therapy, we support people around the world as they navigate the pressures of modern life. Our therapists provide confidential and professional guidance to help you understand what you’re experiencing, whether it be burnout, depression, or, potentially, both. Working with a therapist online can help you regain the quality of life you deserve, no matter where you live or work.
Get started today by contacting us for a free intake session.
References:
[1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165178121003206?via%3Dihub
[2] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165032723009461
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519712/table/ch3.t5/