Depression or Burnout? How to Tell the Difference
Both leave you exhausted and flat — but they’re not the same, and knowing which one you’re facing changes what helps.
The short answer
Burnout is usually tied to chronic stress (often work or caregiving) and tends to lift with real rest and change. Depression is more pervasive — low mood, loss of interest, and hopelessness that follow you even into the parts of life you used to enjoy, and often need treatment to shift.
Why it matters
They can overlap and feed each other. If rest isn’t touching it, or you feel worthless or hopeless, it’s worth talking to someone — you don’t have to sort out the label alone.