Is It Depression or Burnout? How to Tell the Difference

You’re exhausted. Your patience is gone. Even the smallest tasks feel heavy. You’ve probably asked yourself more than once,

“Am I depressed—or just burned out?”

If you’re a high-functioning woman trying to hold everything together, motherhood, work, relationships, or healing from a difficult past. It can be hard to tell the difference. And living in a driven, fast-paced area like Plano, Texas only adds to the pressure.

Let’s walk through what each of these experiences really looks like.

What Burnout Feels Like

Burnout is a state of mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion caused by prolonged, chronic stress—often from caregiving roles, work demands, or always putting others first. It tends to creep in slowly and disguise itself as “just being tired.”

You might be experiencing burnout if:

• You feel mentally drained but continue pushing through the day.

• You’re short-tempered, unmotivated, or emotionally flat.

• You fantasize about quitting, escaping, or disappearing.

• Even after rest, you still feel depleted.

• You find yourself going through the motions, but with zero interest.

Burnout is often role-related, you feel it most in your work, parenting, or caretaking identity. And while it can be intense, a break or shift in routine often provides at least some relief.

What Depression Feels Like

Depression, on the other hand, is a clinical condition. It’s not just stress or fatigue—it’s a deeper emotional shutdown that affects your thoughts, feelings, and ability to function across all areas of life.

Common signs of depression include:

• Persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness.

• Loss of interest in activities or people you once cared about.

• Feelings of guilt, shame, or worthlessness.

• Changes in sleep, appetite, or energy that last for weeks.

• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions.

• A sense that even rest won’t help—and you may not care whether it does.

Unlike burnout, depression often isn’t tied to a specific external cause. You might be doing all the “right” things and still feel like you’re barely holding on.

Burnout vs. Depression: The Key Differences

While burnout and depression can overlap, they aren’t the same. Here’s how to recognize the difference:

• Cause: Burnout is driven by external stressors (like work or parenting), while depression may occur with or without an obvious trigger.

• Scope: Burnout tends to be role-specific (e.g., “I can’t deal with work”), while depression spreads across your entire life.

• Response to Rest: Burnout may improve with time off or reduced stress. Depression typically does not lift just because you’re resting.

• Risk of Overlap: If left unaddressed, burnout can evolve into depression.

Why So Many Women in Plano Are Struggling

In my practice here in Plano, TX, I hear it all the time:

“I have so much to be grateful for—why do I still feel empty?”

“I used to be able to push through. Now I just feel numb.”

This isn’t weakness. This is what happens when you carry too much for too long without support, space, or real emotional safety.

We live in a culture that rewards pushing through, especially for women. But burnout and depression are signs that something needs to change, not that you are broken.

What Helps

If you’re unsure whether you’re dealing with burnout, depression, or both, here’s where to start:

1. Get honest with yourself.

Naming what you’re feeling is a powerful first step. Whether it’s journaling, talking to someone you trust, or working with a therapist—it matters.

2. Learn what your nervous system is telling you.

Therapies like somatic work, IFS, and EMDR can help you understand why your body feels stuck in overdrive or shut down.

3. Stop trying to figure it out alone.

You don’t have to stay in survival mode. Therapy offers space to feel, process, and rebuild in a way that honors both your strength and your exhaustion.

Ready for Something Different?

If you’re in the Plano area and you’re tired of carrying this weight alone, I’d be honored to support you. I specialize in helping women work through burnout, depression, and trauma using deeper methods like IFS, EMDR, and somatic therapy—so it’s not just talk, but real healing.

Reach out to schedule a free consultation. Let’s figure out what you need, and how to help you come back to yourself.