The key difference between stress and burnout is that stress is the state of worry or mental tension due to a difficult situation, while burnout is the state of physical and emotional exhaustion.
Stress and burnout are two related medical conditions. This is because burnout can occur when people experience long-term stress by certain things, such as working a stressful job. Stress can be defined as the state of worry or mental tension due to a difficult situation. In contrast, burnout can be defined as the state of physical and emotional exhaustion. Stress and burnout are different conditions with different etiologies.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Stress
3. What is Burnout
4. Similarities – Stress and Burnout
5. Stress vs. Burnout in Tabular Form
6. FAQ – Stress and Burnout
7. Summary – Stress vs. Burnout
What is Stress?
Stress is the normal human reaction that happens to everyone. The human body produces physical and mental responses to different stresses, such as changes or challenges. However, stress becomes a problem when someone experiences stressors without relief. The signs and symptoms of stress may include aches and pains, chest pain, exhaustion, trouble having sex, headaches, anxiety or irritability, drinking too much alcohol, gambling, overreacting, smoking, and drug usage. Stress can be caused by various factors, for example, unhappy jobs, having a heavy workload, having poor management, working under dangerous conditions, facing discrimination or harassment, financial problems, and issues in personal relationships.
Questionnaires, biochemical measures, and physiologic techniques can be used to diagnose stress. Furthermore, treatment options for stress may include medications such as sleeping pills or minor tranquilizers, antidepressants, medications for diseases like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or high blood pressure, acupuncture, aromatherapy, some herbal therapies like cannabis-based medicines, hypnotherapy, massage, tai chi, and yoga.
What is Burnout?
Burnout is the physical, emotional, or mental exhaustion accompanied by decreased motivation, lowered performance, and negative attitudes toward oneself or others. It can be caused by long-term exposure to stress. The signs and symptoms of this condition may include fatigue, feeling apathetic or dissatisfied with work, headaches, changing the diet pattern or sleep pattern, lack of motivation or passion, lack of concentration, memory loss or brain fog, withdrawal from others, aches, nausea, and low libido.
Burnout can be diagnosed through physical symptoms evaluation and psychological evaluation. Furthermore, treatment options for burnout may include having good sleep habits, nutrition, exercise, social connection, and practices such as meditating, journaling, and enjoying nature.
What are the Similarities Between Stress and Burnout?
- Stress and burnout are two related medical conditions.
- Long-term exposure to stress can cause burnout.
- Both can be diagnosed through psychological evaluations.
- They can be treated through proper nutrition, sleep, and therapies.
What is the Difference Between Stress and Burnout?
Stress is the state of worry caused by a difficult situation, while burnout is the emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. Thus, this is the key difference between stress and burnout. Long-term exposure to stress is the major reason for burnout.
The infographic below presents the differences between stress and burnout in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
FAQ: Stress and Burnout
Can stress turn into burnout?
Yes, prolonged and chronic stress can lead to burnout, which is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion.
What causes stress and burnout?
Stress and burnout can be caused by a variety of factors, including excessive workload, lack of control over work, poor work-life balance, inadequate support, unclear job expectations, and personal factors such as perfectionism or lack of coping mechanisms. Chronic exposure to these stressors can contribute to burnout over time.
How to heal burnout?
Healing from burnout involves addressing stressors, setting boundaries, taking breaks, seeking support, practising self-care, reevaluating goals, and considering professional help if needed.
Summary – Stress vs. Burnout
Stress and burnout are two related medical conditions. Burnout can be a result of unrelenting stress. But it is not the same as stress. Stress is defined as the state of worry or mental tension due to a difficult situation, while burnout is defined as the state of physical and emotional exhaustion. Moreover, stress involves too much pressure. On the other hand, burnout means feeling empty and mentally exhausted. So, this summarizes the difference between stress and burnout.
Reference:
1. “Stress and Your Health: Medlineplus Medical Encyclopedia.” MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
2. “Burn-out an ‘Occupational Phenomenon’: International Classification of Diseases.” World Health Organization.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Woman Holding Her Head” (CC0) via Pexels