Burnout or Depression — How to Tell
Burnout and depression overlap enough to be mistaken for each other, and the difference changes what helps. Here's what usually separates them — and why burnout isn't a diagnosis.
September 21, 20264 min read
Burnout and depression overlap enough to be mistaken for each other, and the difference changes what helps. Here's what usually separates them — and why burnout isn't a diagnosis.
Burnout does not arrive all at once. Knowing which stage you are in changes what actually helps — and rest is only the right answer in one of them.
Burnout usually shows up in your work before it shows up anywhere else. These are the signs that tend to appear first — and why the most capable people are the last to spot them.
There is no fixed timeline, and the honest ranges are longer than most people hope. What actually determines the length is not how tired you were — it is what changes.