Burnout Counselling and Therapy in Bangalore | Rediscover Balance

Burnout and depression are often confused because they share similar symptoms, such as fatigue, feelings of inadequacy, and a lack of motivation. However, they are distinct conditions requiring different approaches to treatment.

What Is Burnout?

Burnout is a stress-related condition typically tied to specific roles or situations, such as work, caregiving, or academic pressure. It arises from chronic stress, leading to emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion.

Key Features of Burnout:

1. Cause: Linked to external stressors, like work or life demands.
2. Focus: Situational (e.g., dissatisfaction with a job or responsibility).
3. Emotional State: Feelings of frustration, cynicism, or detachment, especially related to responsibilities.
4. Physical Symptoms: Fatigue, headaches, and sleep disturbances.
5. Recovery: Removing or addressing the source of stress often alleviates burnout.

What Is Depression?

Depression is a mental health disorder that affects how a person feels, thinks, and behaves. It can occur with or without identifiable external triggers and impacts all areas of life, not just specific situations.

Key Features of Depression:

1. Cause: Can stem from biological, psychological, or environmental factors, or occur without an obvious trigger.
2. Focus: Pervasive and impacts all aspects of life, not just one area.
3. Emotional State: Persistent sadness, hopelessness, and a loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities.
4. Physical Symptoms: Changes in appetite or weight, chronic fatigue, and frequent body aches.
5. Recovery: Often requires professional treatment, such as therapy, medication, or both.

Overlapping Symptoms

While burnout and depression are distinct, they share some common symptoms, including:

• Fatigue and low energy.
• Difficulty concentrating.
• Irritability or mood swings.
• Sleep disturbances.

How to Tell the Difference?

1. Burnout:
   • Primarily linked to external stressors.
   • Symptoms improve when the source of stress is removed or managed.
   • Feelings of emptiness are more situational.
2. Depression:
   • Impacts overall mental health and persists regardless of external changes.
   • May include feelings of worthlessness, guilt, or thoughts of self-harm.
   • Requires professional diagnosis and treatment.

When to Seek Help

• If burnout is severely affecting your work, relationships, or health, consider burnout counselling to address situational stressors.
• If symptoms persist or worsen despite lifestyle changes, it may indicate depression, and professional mental health support is crucial.