Burnout is a condition in which the individual feels completely overwhelmed from an increasing inability to cope with a build-up of stressors considered within the normal range of human experiences. Many of the symptoms are common to depression, including diminished interest and enjoyment of work and personal life.

Individuals suffering from burnout report exhaustion and have difficulty managing their on-going activities and relationships. They feel incompetent and ineffective, self-doubting, alienated at work or in their capacity as homemakers and caregivers. They can’t stop thinking about negative interpersonal experiences and feel judged and pushed around by others. They lose the ability to be self-aware and objective, to think creatively and solve problems, to focus, to concentrate, and find ways of controlling what they can in life.

In addition to support and compassion, a psychologist can help by identifying maladaptive beliefs that individuals hold about their roles in the organization or family. They can reinterpret experiences, and find more effective ways to cope with depression and burnout.