Depression or Burnout - What's the Difference?
By Lindsay Ryan, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Therapist Intern
Have you been in a low mood? Can’t get off the couch? Do you cancel your social plans, or avoid making them? Do you procrastinate?
If you answered ‘yes’ to any of those questions, you may be experiencing symptoms of depression. Depression is usually characterized by a low mood, lack of interest, and a lack of personal care. But depression is not the only reason these symptoms could be showing up for you. These are also often symptoms of burnout. It’s important to understand the origins of your symptoms so that you can find matching solutions.
Consider the metaphor of a flower that is not thriving.
Do we blame the flower for not blossoming? No. Do we shower the petals and leaves with nutrients to help it grow because that’s where the problem is showing up? Also, no. We look at the soil, and we examine why the flower is not growing in the first place and then we provide it with what it needs to thrive. Maybe that means more water, more sunlight, or a different soil. The answer is different depending on the flower. Mental health symptoms are the same, they don’t always show up for the same reasons, and finding symptom relief can look different for everyone.
There are important differences between depression and burnout, but a lot of the symptoms look the same. So, how do you know the difference? Here are some thoughts on how to tell the difference between depression and burnout based on my observations as a therapist intern working in a private practice.
Hopelessness
If you are experiencing general hopelessness or suicidal thoughts, you are not alone. Many people experience these kinds of thoughts along with thoughts or actions of self-harm. If that is something you are experiencing, it is much more likely that you meet the criteria for depression than burnout.
However, a cousin to hopelessness is cynicism. If you find yourself constantly critiquing the world around you, finding fault with people, and having increased irritability, you could be experiencing burnout. The key difference is the directionality of your thoughts. Are you irritated with the world? Or are you irritated with yourself?
If you are having suicidal thoughts, please consider reaching out to the Canada Suicide Prevention Service: 1-833-456-4566 or text 45645.
Moments of Joy
One of the commonalities between depression and burnout is lacking moments of joy, but the reason for that void is different. With depression, activities that bring someone joy start to lose their lustre and the person no longer gets the same kind of meaning from that activity. In the case of burnout, the activity may still bring joy to a person, but they are unable to do the activity because they feel too fatigued, or they can’t choose between multiple tasks and therefore do none of them. The key difference is in how the person feels when they are doing the task. Is painting, karaoke, baking, etc. still enjoyable when you find the chance and energy to do them? Or, does it feel dull, like you are just going through the motions of the activity?If you are not getting joy from the activities that usually bring you joy, it is much more likely you fit the criteria for depression. If you can still get joy from doing activities, but it is a struggle for you to actually do them, it’s possible that you are experiencing burnout.
Fatigue
Both depression and burnout are known for the symptom of fatigue. Fatigue can be the culprit that leads to cancelled social plans, a lack of self care, and can perpetuate the other symptoms. It is also the symptom that can be caused by physical health factors, such as low iron, poor nutrition, or hormonal imbalances. It’s important to treat any underlying medical factors of fatigue if possible. What does your fatigue feel like? Can you do a tasks that seem essential, such as going to work, picking up your kids? Or are these tasks also difficult for you? If you are finding it difficult to do tasks that seem essential, it is much more likely that you meet the criteria for depression. If you can do the tasks that seem essential, but don’t have room for anything else, that could be burnout.
Who gets burnt out?
When the term burnout was first coined in the 1970’s it was in relation to the helping professions, such as nurses and doctors and it was closely related to compassion fatigue. Today, burnout is understood as more ubiquitous and can be seen in many fields, including customer service positions, and in industries where workers lack a voice in their daily routines.
Another aspect of burnout can be neurodiversity. This means if someone has ADHD, Autism, or other neurodiversity they can be prone to a type of burnout specifically associated with neurodiversity. This type of burnout is associated with over-stimulation and energy output that leaves them depleted and prone to dysregulated behavior. As researchers and clinicians learn more about what neurodiversity looks like in adults and among all genders, we are also learning about what this type of burnout looks like and how to respond.
Our lives are incredibly demanding right now. We face any number of responsibilities and challenges in our daily lives. Our own journeys can sometimes be measured against the journeys we see around us, whether in-person or online. We have issues that face us outside our circle of control and we are all finding our own ways to live authentically and ethically. It makes sense that so many of us feel tired, drained, or frustrated at times. These feelings are not wrong or bad, but they can be unhelpful and uncomfortable. It’s important to find ways to honour those feelings, but also to find ways of moving through that discomfort into a more gentle future.
Looking for some support?
If you are experiencing symptoms of depression or burnout and want help, please connect with us. Mental health is health! Learn more about Depression Counselling here.
When you’re ready, we can help.
Book a free 30 minute consultation and let’s talk about it.