Burnout, PTSD, anxiety and depression: What’s the difference?

By Hope Magubane

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought with it a lot of changes and by isolating us it has been able to magnify ongoing societal injustices and, importantly, our own struggles. In our attempts to stay safe, there has been a growing need to also understand how we can live holistic lives that place mental health centre stage. It is important for us to understand that with change comes vulnerability, and this article aims to equip you in understanding some of those vulnerabilities. This will be achieved by discussing some of the differences in identified mental health conditions and conclude with some guidelines on how we can improve our mental health. 

What is burnout?

There has been a growing trend of people wanting to throw in the towel while others try to keep going. Burnout is not just exhaustion that you can wake up and feel better from the next day. Burnout is ongoing exhaustion because of ongoing work stress. You may feel overworked, unappreciated, or overlooked and have lost meaning in what you do or feel incompetent. 

As a result, burnout impacts the following areas: 

  • Emotional (hopelessness, no pleasure, insecure/self-doubt, emotional outbursts) 
  • Physical (fatigue, loss of energy, being sickly, change in sleep patterns)  
  • Behavioural functioning (decreased social interaction, increased use of substances like alcohol) 

What is anxiety? 

It’s important to distinguish between anxiety disorders and everyday anxiety. Anxiety disorders are ongoing feelings of worry or fear that significantly impact a person’s daily functioning. Some anxiety disorders include post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and generalised anxiety disorder. Expected anxiety may be feeling anxious in a specific situation or problem. It is generally present for the same duration of the presenting situation or problem, for example, anxiety ahead of giving a speech, etc.  In my practice I have noticed an increase in generalised anxiety disorder with patients constantly worried or finding it difficult to relax, but most concerns or fears around the situation are usually exaggerated. 

Common symptoms include: 

  • decreased concentration;
  • fatigue;
  • muscle tension; 
  • sweating;
  • nausea; and
  • shortness of breath;
  • racing thoughts or overthinking; and
  • increased heart rate. 

The individual may also struggle with making decisions or with uncertainty. We can’t separate the new normal as a contributing factor in the current awareness of anxiety disorders. 

What is post-traumatic stress disorder? 

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an example of an anxiety disorder. It can go unnoticed in a lot of people because it often coexists alongside other mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. However, with a rich background assessment it can be identified and treated. A lot of people use the terms trauma and PTSD interchangeably, but trauma is a more time-based emotional response to an event like a car accident while PTSD is categorised as ongoing symptoms or response to a past event. 

The symptoms of PTSD include: 

  • intrusive flashbacks;
  • nightmares about trauma;
  • avoidance of triggers; 
  • self-isolation; 
  • hypervigilance;
  • eating disturbances.

These symptoms are experienced six months or more after the traumatic incident. Someone with PTSD will experience negative changes in how they relate to others or how they view themselves. They would also notice physical and emotional changes. 

What is depression?

In the past many people who suffered from depression struggled in silence while others never sought mental health services. A lot of stigma surrounds people who struggle with mental health with them often being perceived as weak, wanting an easy way out or seeking attention. Thankfully, we are seeing a much-needed shift when it comes to mental health conditions like depression. What has made it difficult for some to understand depression is that we all experience feelings of sadness or low mood. This can be triggered by stress while other times may not even have a trigger. Generally, we can bounce back from these feelings. 

Clinical depression is more than just sadness and sufferers are not able to bounce back. It is diagnosed when five or more of these symptoms have been present for two weeks or more:

  • depressed mood; 
  • loss of interest or pleasure or lack of motivation and desire;
  • decreased concentration; 
  • change in memory and sleep patterns; 
  • fatigue; 
  • body aches; 
  • negative thoughts; 
  • weight gain or loss; 
  • anxiety; and
  • suicidal ideation and intent. 

How to build mental resilience and wellness

Strong mental health is essential in helping us cope better in an environment that is ever changing and unpredictable. 

Our everyday needs are all different but what is foundational for all of us to function optimally is our emotional state, being in good physical health and remembering that neglecting your body is neglecting your mind, social interaction/contact, and intellectual or mental wellbeing also form part of holistic living. 

The following tools can help:

  • Making yourself a priority. At times we become so consumed by everyday tasks that we end up neglecting our own needs or feel guilty for wanting this. 
  • Make it a habit to become aware of thoughts. Your thoughts influence your mood and behaviour.
  • Be realistic and understand your strengths. 
  • Make it a habit to care for your physical health, such as exercising, going for walks, and maintaining a healthy diet. 
  • Spend time with family or friends. 
  • Find healthy ways to express your emotions like journaling, talking to someone or even listening to music.
  • Introduce reading into your daily routine. You can start with just a few pages a day.
  • Limit screen time. 
  • Make it a habit to honour yourself and celebrate yourself. 
  • Separate your work and personal life by setting work hours.
  • Make time for your spiritual growth (if this matters to you, like prayer, meditation or reading). 
  • Remember resting is important!
  • Acknowledge when you need help. This is a form of self-growth and truly no man is an Island. 
  • Document the changes you need to make. 
  • Share your plans with a trusted friend.

Remember that the journey to a stronger you starts with letting go of what you can’t control and assuming responsibility for what is in your control. 

Hope Magubane is a clinical psychologist.

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