Analysing your IQ
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Burnout is usually context-linked to chronic overload; depression is a broader mood disorder that can persist across contexts and includes loss of interest and low mood.
This comparison cuts through the confusion around Burnout vs Depression. Both are real, both matter, and conflating them creates problems.
Clarity here matters because interventions differ. What improves Burnout doesn't necessarily improve Depression.
Burnout represents a specific cognitive or behavioral domain. It's not a vague quality—it's measurable and, to some extent, trainable.
Depression has predictive power for outcomes that Burnout misses. That's why the distinction matters.
| Metric | Burnout | Depression |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Primarily work/context-related | Whole-life mood and functioning |
| Primary signal | Exhaustion + cynicism | Low mood + anhedonia |
| Best lever | Workload, control, boundaries | Treatment plan + support + routines |
| Risk | Escalates into health and relationship issues | Can be severe and life-threatening |
Work culture popularized burnout; clinical psychology emphasized depression. The boundary can blur: long-term burnout can contribute to depressive episodes, and depression can make work feel impossible.
Burnout is laziness (it’s often a nervous system load problem).
Depression is just sadness (it includes anhedonia, sleep/appetite changes, and cognitive slowing).
Vacation fixes burnout (often returns you to the same system).
Don't ask which is better. Ask which you're weaker in, then build systems to close the gap.
If changing the context reliably improves you, burnout is likely central. If nothing improves you across contexts, depression screening and treatment become higher priority.
Stop debating the theory and measure the reality. Take the Emotional Health Test to see your specific score.
Burnout is usually context-linked to chronic overload; depression is a broader mood disorder that can persist across contexts and includes loss of interest and low mood.
It depends on context. If changing the context reliably improves you, burnout is likely central. If nothing improves you across contexts, depression screening and treatment become higher priority.
Yes. Burnout and Depression are often independent or only weakly correlated. You can be strong in one and weak in the other.
Improvement requires targeted practice in the specific domain that Burnout measures. Generic effort doesn't transfer effectively.
Improvement requires targeted practice in the specific domain that Depression measures. Different skills require different interventions.
Both contribute, but their relative importance varies by role. Technical roles may weight Burnout more heavily; leadership and client-facing roles often require stronger Depression.