People who believe productivity and resilience are virtues may push themselves to their limits until they reach a breaking point. The result can be mental exhaustion, which mimics many of the symptoms of mental illnesses like anxiety and depression.
Understanding where stress and burnout end and where clinical mental health conditions begin is vital for knowing when to ask for help.
What Is Mental Exhaustion?
Mental exhaustion, also called burnout, occurs when prolonged stress depletes your cognitive and emotional resources. You may feel overwhelmed, unmotivated, drained, or unable to make good decisions. People often describe this state as “running on empty” – where even small tasks feel monumental.
Common signs of burnout include:
- Irritability or moodiness
- Difficulty focusing or remembering
- Neglecting self-care
- Living on autopilot
- Chronic fatigue, even if you get enough rest
- Physical concerns like frequent headaches and stomachaches
- Using drugs or alcohol as a coping mechanism
- Numbness, detachment, or indifference
- Cynicism and denial
- Lack of motivation or productivity
Mental exhaustion is typically situational, building up over time due to work stress, caregiving responsibilities, financial strain, or emotional labor. It often improves when you remove the stressor and take time to rest and recover.
What Is Mental Illness?
Mental illnesses are diagnosable, treatable conditions that affect your mood, thinking, and behavior. These include anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, and PTSD. Mental illness may have a genetic component, involve chemical imbalances in the brain, and persist over time regardless of your current environment or stress level.
Some signs of a mental illness may overlap with symptoms of burnout, but often include:
- Persistent sadness or hopelessness
- Intrusive thoughts or panic attacks
- Changes in sleep or appetite unrelated to your situation
- Difficulty finding pleasure in previously enjoyable activities
- Suicidal thoughts or self-harm
Mental illnesses won’t go away if you get a good night’s sleep or take a weekend to relax. They often require ongoing treatment, such as professional therapy, prescription medication, and specific lifestyle changes.
When Burnout and Mental Illnesses Overlap
It’s easy to mistake mental exhaustion for a mental illness because both can cause:
- Emotional numbness or detachment
- Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
- Increased anxiety or irritability
- A desire to withdraw from others
Additionally, long-term burnout can sometimes trigger a mental illness. For instance, untreated chronic stress can evolve into generalized anxiety disorder or major depressive disorder.
The Benefits of Compassionate Treatment
It’s time to seek help if your symptoms:
- Persist for two weeks or more
- Begin interfering with your work, relationships, or daily function
- Do not improve with rest or time off
- Include thoughts of self-harm or suicide
A therapist or psychiatrist can conduct a thorough evaluation to determine whether you are experiencing mental exhaustion, a clinical disorder, or both. This distinction is critical for determining the most effective potential solutions.
Is It Burnout, or Something More?
Whether you’re living with burnout or suspect you might be dealing with something more serious, Palm Springs Behavioral Health’s licensed professionals can develop a personalized plan that accounts for your experiences and needs.
Recovery begins with understanding your diagnosis and receiving the appropriate care. Contact us today to schedule your confidential mental health assessment.
