Adult life is exhausting, most of the time. It is not just the matter of physical exhaustion, that you can remedy, but the mental exhausting cannot simply be willed away with a cup of coffee. Burnout is not people being complacent; this condition is real enough to merit the attention of the WHO. It is a serious concern that causes people to become fatigued, lose interest in their work, become snarky and cynical, have their physical health suffer a great deal, and lose their sleep. Some might even quit and not be able to work, such as the impact of burnout. A salient feature of burnout is simply not having the energy.

There is frustration, sadness, anxiety, poor disposition, blues, all wrapped into one. In such circumstances then, it gets harder to tell whether you are depressed, or if its burnout that you are experiencing.

Making this distinction with the aid of a Psychiatrist in Lahore is important, as it is a grave matter to do with your well-being overall. To understand which of the two you are feeling, knowing the two and their key differences is important.

What is depression?

Depression is a mental illness that can cause people to become sad, teary, jaded, exhausted. It causes people to experience a painful level of blues, that seeps all the joy from their life.

Lack of self-worth becomes heightened, and they lose interest in things they used to enjoy. People feel guilty and may even go towards suicide ideation as well. They might also have difficulty concentrating on the task at hand.

Depression also causes physical symptoms as well, including change in sleep and appetite, lethargy, agitation, etc.

What is burnout?

Burnout, unlike depression, is not a mental health illness, but rather a state that impairs mental and the physical health. It results from lack of adequate self-care and stretching yourself too thin.

Often, burnout is accelerated by continuous exposure to stressful situations, anxiety, overwork, and exhaustion. It is mostly considered in the realm of work or occupation, however, there is an emerging sense of burnout from other responsibilities like parenting as well.

Burnout is not people being complacent; this condition is real enough to merit the attention of the WHO. It is a serious concern that causes people to become fatigued, lose interest in their work, become snarky and cynical, have their physical health suffer a great deal, and lose their sleep. Some might even quit and not be able to work, such as the impact of burnout. A salient feature of burnout is simply not having the energy.

Differences between depression and burnout

Medical Vs. Occupational issue

Depression is a medical condition, that requires proper diagnosis, treatment, and management. A person needs to be evaluated by a mental health expert to get a diagnosis.

Burnout is not people being complacent; this condition is real enough to merit the attention of the WHO. It is a serious concern that causes people to become fatigued, lose interest in their work, become snarky and cynical, have their physical health suffer a great deal, and lose their sleep. Some might even quit and not be able to work, such as the impact of burnout. A salient feature of burnout is simply not having the energy.

Burnout, on the other hand, is an occupational issue. You can identify yourself as well, by looking at the symptoms, if you are burnout. The same conviction cannot be held for depression.

Lose interest Vs. No energy

The key feature of depression is sadness. It is heightened by people’s lack of interest in the activities that they once enjoyed. People who are depressed then don’t find things funny, stimulating, or even pleasant.

Burnout is not people being complacent; this condition is real enough to merit the attention of the WHO. It is a serious concern that causes people to become fatigued, lose interest in their work, become snarky and cynical, have their physical health suffer a great deal, and lose their sleep. Some might even quit and not be able to work, such as the impact of burnout. A salient feature of burnout is simply not having the energy.

With burnout, it is not that you don’t like the activities that invigorate you, but you simply don’t have the energy to do them. You still have the ability to enjoy them, and the same cannot be said for people who are depressed.

On the contrary, change in circumstances yields a positive impact on people who are burnout. They do feel better if they get away from their work. A vacation seems heavenly, and a break from work is great. Depressed people, not so much.

Lack of impact on change Vs. distance producing impact

People who are depressed don’t feel better if they are removed from their current circumstances. Their symptoms don’t alter if they are taken elsewhere; they don’t have the will to enjoy themselves from within.

Burnout is not people being complacent; this condition is real enough to merit the attention of the WHO. It is a serious concern that causes people to become fatigued, lose interest in their work, become snarky and cynical, have their physical health suffer a great deal, and lose their sleep. Some might even quit and not be able to work, such as the impact of burnout. A salient feature of burnout is simply not having the energy.

On the contrary, change in circumstances yields a positive impact on people who are burnout. They do feel better if they get away from their work. A vacation seems heavenly, and a break from work is great. Depressed people, not so much.

Permanent Vs. Temporary symptoms

Since depression is an illness, it won’t get better without treatment from a Psychiatrist in Fauji Foundation Hospital. Burnout, on the other hand, is often a temporary state. It can improve by self-care, work management, prioritizing your mental health, taking a break. Of course, it can also be severe enough to merit help from an expert as well.