Experts
Explain How to Tell If You're Depressed or Burn- Out?
Everyone
has felt transitory melancholy, weariness, and impatience at some point in
their lives. It can be tough to pinpoint what you're experiencing and what you
need to do about it when these sensations last for prolonged periods of time.
Several symptoms overlap in the Venn diagram of depression and burnout, with
both depression and burnout frequently showing as a lack of interest in
activities you used to enjoy, constant emotional tiredness, and feelings of
emptiness and hopelessness.
Stress
has infiltrated practically every part of our lives, from long work hours to
higher responsibilities at home. You've come to the correct place if you've
been feeling numb or overwhelmed and aren't sure if you're depressed or burned
out. POPSUGAR spoke with specialists to learn more about the distinctions and
treatments for burnout and depression.
What
Is Burnout?
According
to a therapist, burnout is a gradual loss of energy caused by being overworked and
overburdened over a lengthy period of time. Burnout is simply tiredness. You're
exhausted and have no energy to do anything more than get through the day; in
the worst cases, you can't even get out of bed.
While
work-related burnout is common, according to Gaspard, it isn't the only cause.
Burnout is common among caregivers of family or friends. Because burnout creeps
up on you slowly and grows over time, you may not realise you're approaching
burnout until you're utterly exhausted. Gaspard emphasises that after you've
reached that place, all you need is to sleep. If your circumstances prevent you
from doing so, you may feel powerless, which fuels the burnout cycle.
What
Are the Symptoms of Burnout?
Experts
say burnout symptoms include:
· Anger
or sadness
· Fatigue
or lack of energy
· Feelings
of hopelessness or helplessness
· Feeling
numb
· Insomnia
or hypersomnia
· Diminished
ability to think or concentrate
· Indecisiveness
· Feeling
tense or on edge
· Appetite
changes
· Cynicism
· Feeling
detached or disengaged
· Decreased
motivation
Physical
discomforts, such as increased digestion problems, teeth grinding, cold
symptoms, and headaches
Burnout
symptoms vary by person, but they commonly include feeling overwhelmed and pressured,
having little energy, feeling cynical or negative about your work, and having
difficulty focusing on tasks, according to an expert. Burnout is frequently
linked to a specific factor, such as your job, work environment, or coworkers
and bosses.
If
you believe you are suffering from burnout, ask yourself the following
questions:
· Do
I have persistent exhaustion?
· Do
I have trouble enjoying my work or hobbies?
· Do
I feel pressed for time all of the time?
· Am
I avoiding social situations or relationships?
· Do
I have difficulty sleeping?
According
to specialists, if you replied yes to the majority of these questions, you may
be suffering from burnout.
What's
the Difference Between Depression and Burnout?
While
depression shares many of the same symptoms as burnout, such as a lack of
interest in previously loved activities, changes in appetite, and insomnia or
hypersomnia, the underlying reason is fundamentally different. An expert tells
POPSUGAR that while burnout is generally concentrated and tied to occupational
areas, depression can be induced, exacerbated, and maintained by a range of
factors such as heredity, unpleasant life experiences, and traumatic events.
Burnout is not a medical diagnosis, although it can have a negative impact on a
person's mental and physical health if left untreated.
It's
likely that you were experiencing burnout if you removed the main source of
stress from your life — for example, by taking a new job — and felt immediate
relief. Without other treatments and lifestyle adjustments, it's not assured
that removing a specific stressor would improve symptoms of sadness, especially
because some people are genetically predisposed to depression.
If
you realise that you are suffering symptoms of depression or burnout, and they are
affecting your ability to operate on a daily basis, you should get professional
help. A specialist can help you understand what's going on and how to treat
your symptoms effectively so you can get relief as soon as possible.
How
to Treat Burnout and Depression?
It
can be difficult to address your needs when you're feeling numb, hopeless, and
fatigued, but it's critical that you do. Discuss your symptoms with a doctor or
a licenced therapist. If depression is suspected, treatment focuses on three
areas: lifestyle changes (such as being physically active or altering your
surroundings), talk therapy, and medication.
People
with a clinical diagnosis of depression who address all three areas — lifestyle
changes, therapy, and medication — usually have the best results. Individuals
differ, and preferences differ as well. Some people prefer to begin with one
treatment and add more as needed, while others prefer to begin with many
treatments.
The
approaches to dealing with burnout are comparable. The bottom line, according
to Gaspard, is to seek assistance. However, because burnout is frequently
linked to external expectations, it's critical to take stock. To do so, Gaspard
asks her customers to complete a simple exercise: compile a list of their daily
responsibilities. Then ask yourself what is definitely necessary. What can you
put off? What tasks can you delegate? What can be cancelled indefinitely?
As
you go over this, notice which parts of yourself are triggered. Is your
perfectionist, inner critic, or pleaser pushing you to be a superhero, which
you can't keep up with? What do your other parts require? Rest? Fun?
Assistance? This exercise will get you off the express train that people who
are overdoing it usually take and don't stop to think about it. That is
precisely what is required.