The Differences Between Burnout and Depression

Are you feeling down? Read this article and determine whether it’s just temporary burnout or severe chronic Depression that needs medical help.

Note: I am not a mental health professional. The information presented in this article should not be used for self-diagnosis or to replace a medical diagnosis from a mental health professional or your primary care physician. The following information is for educational purposes only.

Your mental health is constantly tested, and there may come a time when you’re experiencing a wide range of emotions similar to burnout or Depression. Now, how do you know which one it is? How do you know the differences between burnout and Depression?

To begin with, a recent survey done by the World Health Organization revealed that about 3.8% of the world population suffers from Depression. Do you think that’s small? You may want to rethink that because that’s 280 million people! And apart from Depression, another term very frequently used these days almost synonymously with Depression – “Burnout.”

It’s fashionable, trendy, or whatever you call it, but it is a reality. According to a study conducted by Spring Health, about 76% of employees currently suffer from burnout in the US alone.

But, to be precise, Depression and burnout are NOT the same. There are some critical differences between the two illnesses. Today, I will compare and discuss the differences between burnout and Depression.

Let’s take a look at what Depression and burnout are.

Burnout vs. Depression

What’s Exactly Burnout?

If you noticed the burnout statistic above, it said ’employees,’ not people, pointing to the fact that burnout belongs to the working class. Employees, workers, and laborers are all prone to burning out!

Burnout is a temporary period of exhaustion or lack of energy caused by work overload and job stress. Although experts have not come up with a definitive definition for burnout, it’s widely accepted as different from its lookalike depression.

Now, what’s Depression?

Defining Depression

We’ve all felt down in the dumps, but that wasn’t necessarily ‘depression.’ Depression is a diagnosable mental health condition that is an independent illness on its own and doesn’t necessarily owe itself to some traceable incident.

Sadness, hopelessness, anxiety, frustration, and suicidal thoughts are part and parcel of Depression. Depression is a persisting illness; it goes and comes, and sometimes it lasts one’s lifetime.

So, with Depression, getting treatment and medical help is essential.

Are you feeling down? Read this article and determine whether it's just temporary burnout or severe chronic Depression that needs medical help. #MentalHealth #MentalHealthMatters Share on X

Difference In their Causes

One difference between burnout and Depression is related to how they’re caused. As said before, burnout is usually a result of work-related stress. The work can be parenting, driving, teaching, studying, or working at your office.

So, you can trace your burnout back to some recent event or incident (most of the time). Once you know the relationship between burnout and its triggers, you can quickly figure out how to overcome it.

As for Depression, it’s hard to figure out why you’re feeling depressed. And also, Depression has a very well-known “psychological” angle to it. Some past event, say 15 years ago, can still suck you into Depression. But NEVER into burnout.

Let’s talk about the differences between burnout and depression symptoms.

How Do Their Symptoms Differ?

Depression and burnout may share common symptoms like anger, stress, low mood, fatigue, and sleep loss. But the critical difference between Depression and burnout is the length and how it affects you.

Symptoms of burnout will most likely be temporary.

Suppose you had a hard day at the office, got a backlog of work on your desk, and the boss was mad at you. Now, do you feel at the end of the day? Down and depressed. But that’s not Depression. That’s burnout.

Burnout symptoms don’t typically last long and can be resolved with some self-care and relaxation.

On the flip side, you had a fine day at work. You didn’t experience any traffic jams, and there wasn’t much work piled up. But throughout your day, you felt gloomy for no reason, which always happens. 

Now, that’s very likely Depression.

Burnout vs. Depression Symptoms

Outside of symptoms such as anger, extreme stress, and sleepiness, there are symptoms you should be aware of that are individualized to Depression or burnout, but not both. Some of the differences between burnout and depression symptoms are:

In Burnout

• Caring about your work or home life seems like a total waste of energy.
• You’re exhausted all the time.
• Most of your day is spent on tasks you find dull or overwhelming.
• You feel like nothing you do makes a difference or is appreciated
• Sense of failure and self-doubt
• Changes in appetite or sleep

With burnout, these symptoms gradually take time and will likely cause physical harm. On the other hand, Depression is a chemical imbalance caused by a combination of social, psychological, and physical stress. The symptoms of clinical Depression vary from person to person, but some of the most common symptoms are:

In Depression

• Persistent feelings of sadness, grief, or hopelessness
• Loss of interest in hobbies
• Anxiety
• Excessive crying or anger
• Thoughts of suicide or self-harm
• Loss of appetite or increased hunger
• Oversleeping

Depression requires a diagnosis from a psychologist or psychiatrist and many treatments. There are also different kinds of Depression, such as seasonal Depression.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Now that you’ve learned the key differences in symptoms between Depression and burnout let’s discuss the diagnosis and treatment for both.

Burnout usually doesn’t require medical checkups, diagnoses, or treatment. Instead, it’s a condition that can improve once you take time away from work and chill out.

On the other hand, Depression needs diagnosis and medical treatment. Sometimes, doctors may put a depressive patient on medications and therapy, while someone with burnout might need none. 

People with Depression may also seek natural or other remedies to relieve their symptoms, such as getting some vitamin D, taking fish oil supplements, or making lifestyle changes. In addition, there are many self-care practices you can also use to help you manage your overall mental health.

So, that’s about it! Now, you know the differences between burnout and Depression. What did you learn? Let me know in the comments.