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Understand burnout · Lesson 6 of 12

Burnout, Stress or Depression? How to Tell Them Apart

Learn how burnout differs from everyday stress and from depression, why the lines blur, and why a doctor is often the first step.

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Stress, burnout and depression can feel alike, and they can overlap. In this lesson you learn how burnout differs from everyday stress and from depression, and why a doctor is often the first step. This is general information, not medical advice, and you cannot reliably sort this out alone.

Stress: it eases when the cause passes

Stress usually has an outside cause, and it eases when that cause is resolved. A busy month at work is stressful, but once it passes, you recover.

A line chart of stress that rises in red during a shaded period and falls back in green afterward, next to a calendar with four shaded weeks labeled A busy month at work. Notes read Has an outside cause and Eases when the cause passes.(opens the full-size picture)
Stress climbs during a busy month and comes back down after it.

Burnout: narrower and longer

Burnout is narrower and longer. It is tied to work, it builds over months, and it brings three things: exhaustion, distance from the job, and a feeling that you are not doing it well. If you want to revisit the three parts, see what burnout is.

A work badge labeled Tied to work, a strip of six boxes from Month 1 to Month 6 under the words Narrower and longer, and three gauges all pointing low, labeled Exhaustion, Distance and Doing it well.(opens the full-size picture)
Burnout is tied to work and builds over months.

Depression: every part of life

Depression affects every part of life, not just work. A key sign is low mood or loss of interest most of the day, nearly every day, for two weeks or more. If that sounds like you, see a doctor.

A house, a work badge and two friends side by side under the words Every part of life, next to a calendar with two shaded weeks labeled Most days, 2 weeks or more. A chip reads Low mood or loss of interest, and a doctor card reads If that sounds like you, See a doctor.(opens the full-size picture)
Low mood most days for two weeks or more is a reason to see a doctor.

If you are struggling

Low mood or loss of interest most of the day for two weeks or more is a reason to see a doctor. If you ever think about harming yourself, call your local emergency number or a crisis line right away.

The lines blur

The lines between these are not sharp. Researchers still argue about how much burnout and depression overlap, and some warn that the burnout label can hide depression that has not been diagnosed. That is another reason not to diagnose yourself. You do not need to decide which word fits before you ask for help.

Three overlapping circles labeled Burnout, Depression and Stress, with the burnout and depression circles overlapping strongly. Two chips below read The label can hide depression and, crossed out in red, Diagnose yourself.(opens the full-size picture)
The circles overlap, so do not try to diagnose yourself.

Doctor first

Many signs of burnout also come from other conditions, like anaemia, an overactive thyroid, diabetes or sleep problems. So a doctor usually comes first. They may suggest blood tests, and they can talk with you about time off or reduced hours. Rules about time off differ from country to country, so ask what applies where you live.

A doctor card labeled Doctor first, next to four chips under Other possible causes: Anaemia, Thyroid, Diabetes and Sleep problems. Below are a blood test tube labeled Blood tests and a calendar labeled Time off or fewer hours.(opens the full-size picture)
A doctor can check other causes and talk about time off.

Bring notes to the visit

A few notes make the appointment more useful. Write down when it started, which days are worst, how you are sleeping, whether days off help, what changed at work, and any medicines you take. These answers help a doctor more than the word burnout does.

A notepad titled Notes for the doctor with six ticked lines: When it started, Which days are worst, How you're sleeping, Days off: do they help, What changed at work, and Medicines you take. A red-outlined card reads Thoughts of harming yourself? Call your local emergency number now.(opens the full-size picture)
Six notes to bring, and what to do if you have thoughts of harming yourself.

If you ever have thoughts of harming yourself, do not wait for an appointment. Call your local emergency number or a crisis line right away.

YOUR TURN

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Read the full lesson script

In this lesson, you'll learn how burnout differs from everyday stress and from depression, and why a doctor is often the first step.

Stress usually has an outside cause, and eases when that cause is resolved. A busy month at work is stressful, but once it passes, you recover.

Burnout is narrower and longer. It's tied to work, it builds over months, and it brings exhaustion, distance from the job, and a feeling you're not doing it well.

Depression affects every part of life, not just work. A key sign is low mood or loss of interest most of the day, nearly every day, for two weeks or more. If that sounds like you, see a doctor.

The lines aren't sharp. Researchers still argue about how much burnout and depression overlap, and some warn that the burnout label can hide depression that hasn't been diagnosed. That's another reason not to diagnose yourself.

Many signs of burnout also come from other conditions, like anaemia, an overactive thyroid, diabetes, or sleep problems. So a doctor usually comes first. They may suggest blood tests, and can talk with you about time off or reduced hours.

Bring a few notes to the appointment: when it started, which days are worst, how you're sleeping, whether days off help, what changed at work, and any medicines you take. And if you ever have thoughts of harming yourself, call your local emergency number or a crisis line right away.

So remember: stress usually eases when its cause passes. Burnout is about work, and builds over months. And low mood most days for two weeks is a reason to see a doctor. Before the next lesson, write the notes you would bring to a doctor. Next, you'll learn what causes burnout.