Burnout or Depression: Signs It May Be More Than Work

What is burnout, exactly?

The World Health Organization includes burnout in its International Classification of Diseases as an occupational phenomenon, and states that it is not classified as a medical condition. It is defined as a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.

That definition has three parts, and it is useful to check yourself against each of them:

• Feeling drained of energy or exhausted
• Growing mental distance from your job, or feeling negative or cynical about it
• Feeling less effective at work

Can you get burned out from something other than a job?

The WHO definition is strict: it says the term refers to the work setting and should not be used for other areas of life. In everyday speech, people use the word more broadly. Mental Health America, for example, describes burnout from ongoing stress that can come from work, school, parenting or caregiving.

You do not need to settle the wording. If you are caring for a parent, a sick child or a household and feel empty and exhausted, the practical question is the same: is this easing when the load eases, or has it spread into everything?

How does burnout differ from depression?

Researchers describe burnout as job-related and specific to a situation, and depression as more general and not tied to one setting. In practice, the clearest clues are where the symptoms show up and whether rest changes them. This table is a starting point for that thinking. It cannot tell you which one you are experiencing.

Where do burnout and depression overlap?

Many of the signs look alike, which is why people so often confuse them. Exhaustion, trouble concentrating, irritability, feeling numb or unmotivated, and physical complaints such as headaches, digestive problems or muscle tension can appear in both. Anxiety can show up too, and if worry is a large part of the picture, our guide on normal worry and anxiety disorders may help you sort it out.

The two can also be linked. A 2016 review in the journal World Psychiatry concluded that burnout and depression are distinct but not independent, and it describes a long-term study in Finland in which each one predicted later developments in the other. So having one does not rule out the other, and burnout does not have to be fully resolved before depression is taken seriously.

What are signs that it may be more than work?

These do not diagnose anything, but they are good reasons to get evaluated rather than wait for your next vacation:

• You feel no better after a real break, a day off or a lighter week.
• You have also lost interest in things outside of work, such as hobbies, friends or family.
• Your mood is low most of the day, nearly every day, for two weeks or more.
• You feel worthless, guilty or hopeless, rather than only frustrated with your job.
• Your sleep or appetite has clearly changed.
• You are drinking or using substances more to cope.
• You have thoughts of death or suicide. This one needs attention today.

What can help if it looks like burnout?

Mental Health America suggests practical steps: setting limits on what must get done, not checking email after hours, using your paid time off, taking small breaks during the day, asking others to take on tasks, and identifying what is driving the stress so you can change what you are able to change. Talking with a therapist or an employee assistance program may also be an option.

Treat these as a test as well as a remedy. If you make real changes and feel better, that is useful information. If nothing shifts, or if changing your job would not seem to touch how you feel, tell a health care provider.

What happens if I get evaluated, and what is care like here?

A provider will ask when symptoms began, how often they occur and how they affect your daily activities. Because certain medications and medical conditions, such as thyroid disorders, can cause symptoms like those of depression, a physical exam or lab tests may be suggested, and your primary care provider can often help with that. Our guide on choosing a therapist or a psychiatric provider can help you decide where to begin.

At DanShalom Behavioral Clinic, you see Victor Onodjacha, MSN, PMHNP-BC, a board-certified psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner, at every visit. The first evaluation takes about 60 minutes, in Sugar Land or by secure video if you are physically in Texas, Idaho, Arizona or Maryland. We look at the whole picture, including depression and anxiety. Burnout itself is not a condition on our list, so ask us if that is your only concern.

If depression or anxiety is part of the picture, treatment can include therapy, medication or both. Medication is decided together, after an evaluation. Not every medication can be prescribed at every kind of visit, some may require an in-person appointment, and we explain what applies to you on our medication management page and at your visit. Talk with your prescriber before starting, stopping or changing a medication.

We are not an emergency service. If you are in crisis or thinking about suicide, call or text 988, and in a life-threatening situation call 911.