Burnout is what happens when people spend long periods in situations that take more from them than they can cope with and they get to a point where they can no longer operate.
Currently burnout is not a formally recognised condition despite good evidence of a distinct neurobiological presentation (see Neurobiology of burnout below). There is however an ‘industry standard’ test for it the Maslach Burnout Inventory, which is used in research and sometimes by human resource (H.R.) departments to monitor and assess people.
Typical indications that you are burnt out or are burning out include:
- Tiredness – Often characterised by a lack of zest for life even when engaged in usually enjoyable activities.
- Poor sleep – Waking without feeling refreshed.
- Brain fog – Difficulty accessing and coordinating thoughts.
- Low or no productivity – An inability to start or completing tasks that you normally would be able to do.
- Pessimism, Despondency and cynicism – A lack of hope for the future, a lack of faith in the systems and humanity. This tends to happen in more advanced cases as they move into depression.
- Physical ailments – Typically conditions with no definable cause such as frequent colds, digestive disruption and a rise in aches and pains.
As most of us will experience these symptoms from time to time. As such we tend to push through and usually we just get better. However, if we are in a situation that prevents us from properly recovering, we can go into cascade failure.
Cascade failure and Compensatory executive overdrive
Most of us have coped with the odd night of bad sleep or the occasional period where getting work through to completion has proven particularly difficult. As such we think little of these things, assuming they are temporary. However, sometimes they persist and result in secondary issues. For example;
- Too much work leads to a lack of sleep, simply because there are not enough hours in the day
- which leads to being less effective at work
- which leads to work piling up
- which leads to pressure from the boss which adds to stress
- which maintains or deepens sleep disruption
- and the works piles up, and the stress piles up
- and you hold on knowing that you will recover during your holiday – but the work doesn’t stop because you are off for a few days … it just piles up.
- …and you burn out
The neurological aspect of this is called ‘Compensatory Executive Overdrive’ (CEO). In CEO we start to recruit and push the brains executive functions hard to compensate for reduced capacity due to tiredness. By doing this we pressure this system speeding decline.
What is the difference between burnout and stress?
Stress is being in a position where life is taking more from you than it is giving, but you are able, at least for now to cope with it. Often coping with it means doing more. Stress may be characterised by:
- High levels of activity.
- Emotional variability.
- Busy mind.
Burnout is the result of prolonged stress. A person is burnt out when stress has taken so much, they can no longer operate. Thus, the characteristics of a burnt-out person are often the opposite of a stressed one
- Sedentary and unable to get moving, sometimes being unable to get out of bed.
- Emotionally flat, feeling neither highs nor lows.
- Inability to think and imagine.
The choice to call this experience burnout was well chosen, it is like you have been burning fuel at a high rate for so long that there is none left and the spark has gone out.
Burnout and depression
It can be difficult to distinguish between burnout and depression because they have much in common, and indeed burnout can lead to depression. There are however a few differences;
- A major characteristic of depression is hopelessness. Often this hopelessness leads to suicidal thoughts. As burnout is caused by stress, which is usually specific to a particular situation, there is hope that the situation will change. Of course, if the stress is too general or no change can be foreseen then depression may be triggered.
- Difference in cause – Burnout is the result of life taking more than it gives (long term stress). Depression by comparison can be the result of a plethora of things such as bereavements of all sorts (People, job, identity.), it can be purely biological, or the result of trauma (recent or childhood).
- Neurobiological difference – Depression is associated with a smaller hippocampus, but hippocampal size appears normal with burnout (Chmiel & Kurpas 2025).
Neurobiology of burnout (Chmiel & Kurpas 2025).
Because burnout is the result of long-term stressors it results in changes in the structure of the brain;
- Amygdala enlargement – More pronounced in women than men, enlargement of the amygdala is associated with a more intense response to fears stimuli. This results in a negative feedback loop where more fear is experienced.
- Shrinkage of the Striatum (Caudate and Putamen) – More pronounced in men than women, this results in the effort-reward system of the brain being thrown out of balance.
- Reduction in grey matter density in the prefrontal cortex (Dorsolateral/ventromedial) – This has implications for reduced executive control and emotional regulation. There is also the possibility that this can lead to feelings of depersonalisation.
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