How do you know if you are suffering from burnout or depression? Discover the differences!

Anyone can experience temporary feelings of sadness, exhaustion and irritability. But when these negative feelings persist for a longer period, it can be difficult to determine whether they are signs of burnout or depression.

A busy work schedule and additional household responsibilities can cause stress. If you're feeling overwhelmed with your responsibilities but aren't sure if you're suffering from depression or burnout, you've come to the right place.

How do you know if you are suffering from burnout syndrome?

Burnout is a psychological syndrome that occurs as a reaction to stressors, especially at work. Simply put, you feel exhausted, unmotivated, and gradually lose motivation to work at your best. According to psychotherapist LaQuite McNickels, you know you're suffering from burnout if you experience: fatigue and lack of energy, feelings of hopelessness, feelings of numbness, insomnia or increased sleepiness, decreased ability to concentrate, indecisiveness, feelings of tension, decreased motivation, and physical symptoms (including increased digestive problems, teeth grinding, cold symptoms and headaches).

“Symptoms of burnout can vary from person to person, but often include feeling overwhelmed and stressed, lack of energy and lack of motivation to work.” "Burnout is usually related to something, like your job, the work environment, co-workers, and supervisors," psychotherapist Jed Turnbull told POPSUGAR.

If you suspect you are suffering from burnout, a therapist suggests asking yourself the following questions: “Do I feel chronically exhausted?” “Am I having difficulty enjoying my work and hobbies?” “Do I feel like I am constantly working under pressure?” ", "Do I have problems sleeping?". If you answered yes to most of the questions, there's a good chance you're dealing with this syndrome, says a specialist.

Depression vs. Burn out

While depression can have the same symptoms as burnout, including loss of interest in things you once enjoyed, changes in appetite, insomnia or increased sleepiness, the underlying cause is different.

In general, burnout is related to the work environment, while depression can be caused by a variety of factors, such as genetics, negative life events and traumatic events, says clinical psychologist Vivian Oberling. Additionally, burnout is not a medical diagnosis, although it can affect mental and physical health if not addressed early.

What's more, if you eliminate the biggest source of stress in your life (like starting a new job) and feel better, there's a good chance you've experienced burnout. Conversely, with depression, you have no guarantee that eliminating a particular stressor will relieve your symptoms without other treatment or lifestyle changes, especially in the case of people who are genetically predisposed to depression.

If you suspect you are dealing with depression, you should talk to your doctor or therapist about your symptoms. If depression is to blame, treatment may include lifestyle changes, therapy, and certain medications.