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Do I Have Burnout and Adjustment Disorder?

Symptoms, Causes, and When to Seek Help

Burnout. Stress leave. Emotional exhaustion. Adjustment disorder.

 

If you’re here, you might be asking:

 

  • “Am I burnt out or depressed?”

  • “Why can’t I cope like I used to?”

  • “Is burnout a real diagnosis?”

  • “What is adjustment disorder?”

  • “Do I need therapy or just time off?”

 

This guide is designed to answer those questions clearly — without jargon — using evidence-based research and clinically accurate definitions aligned with how mental health is assessed in Canada and internationally.

What Is Burnout?

The Short Answer

 

Burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by chronic workplace stress.

 

In 2019, the World Health Organization formally classified burnout in the ICD-11 as an occupational phenomenon (not a medical disorder), defined by three core dimensions:

 

  1. Feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion

  2. Increased mental distance or cynicism toward work

  3. Reduced professional efficacy

 

Burnout specifically relates to the work context — not all life stress.

 

Reference:

World Health Organization. (2019). Burn-out an “occupational phenomenon”: International Classification of Diseases.

Pensive woman

What Is Adjustment Disorder?

The Clinical Definition

 

Adjustment disorder is a diagnosable mental health condition.

 

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR), adjustment disorder occurs when:

 

  • Emotional or behavioral symptoms develop within 3 months of a stressor

  • The distress is out of proportion to the severity of the stressor

  • There is significant impairment in social, occupational, or other areas of functioning

  • Symptoms do not meet criteria for another mental disorder

 

Stressors may include:

 

  • Work overload

  • Job loss

  • Divorce or separation

  • Immigration or relocation

  • Medical diagnosis

  • Academic failure

  • Financial strain

 

Reference:

American Psychiatric Association. (2022). DSM-5-TR.

Overwhelmed man taking in sunshine in a zen and mindfulness moment

Burnout vs Adjustment Disorder: What’s the Difference?

Important: Many people who say they are “burned out” clinically meet criteria for adjustment disorder, major depressive disorder, or an anxiety disorder.

​

What Does Burnout Feel Like?

 

People often search:

 

  • “Why am I so tired all the time?”

  • “Why do I hate my job suddenly?”

  • “Why do I feel numb and unmotivated?”

 

Common symptoms include:

 

 

Emotional Symptoms

 

  • Irritability

  • Cynicism

  • Emotional numbness

  • Reduced empathy

  • Feeling detached

 

 

Cognitive Symptoms

 

  • Poor concentration

  • Forgetfulness

  • Decision fatigue

  • Reduced creativity

 

 

Physical Symptoms

 

  • Chronic fatigue

  • Headaches

  • Sleep disruption

  • Muscle tension

  • GI symptoms

 

Research shows burnout strongly correlates with depression, but they are not identical constructs (Maslach & Leiter, 2016).

 

References:

Maslach, C., & Leiter, M. P. (2016). Burnout. Annual Review of Psychology, 67, 397–422.

Salvagioni et al. (2017). Physical, psychological and occupational consequences of job burnout. PLoS ONE, 12(10).

 

 

What Causes Burnout?

 

According to the World Health Organization and occupational health literature, burnout is associated with:

 

  • High workload

  • Low control

  • Insufficient reward

  • Lack of community

  • Perceived unfairness

  • Value conflict

 

Maslach’s six areas of worklife model remains foundational in understanding occupational burnout.

 

Reference:

Maslach, C., & Leiter, M. P. (2016).

 

 

What Causes Adjustment Disorder?

 

Adjustment disorder occurs when someone struggles to adapt to change.

 

Risk factors include:

 

  • Limited coping skills

  • Previous trauma

  • Neurodivergence (e.g., ADHD, autism)

  • Chronic stress exposure

  • Lack of social support

 

Unlike burnout, the stressor may be:

 

  • Relationship conflict

  • Health changes

  • Immigration stress

  • Financial instability

  • Parenting challenges

 

Reference:

Casey, P. (2014). Adjustment disorder: epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment. CNS Drugs, 28(1), 1–12.

Young woman experiencing burnout and depression finding solace in a mindful moment

Can Burnout Become Depression?

​Yes, burnout can become depression.

 

Research suggests significant symptom overlap between burnout and depression. Some scholars argue burnout may represent a work-specific subtype of depression (Bianchi et al., 2015).

 

Reference:

Bianchi, R., Schonfeld, I. S., & Laurent, E. (2015). Burnout–depression overlap: A review. Clinical Psychology Review, 36, 28–41.

 

Key distinction:

 

  • Burnout improves when removed from work stress

  • Depression persists across contexts

 

 

When Should You Seek Professional Help?

 

People often search:

 

  • “Do I need therapy for burnout?”

  • “How long does burnout last?”

  • “Can I take stress leave?”

 

Seek professional support if:

 

  • Symptoms persist more than 2–3 weeks

  • You feel hopeless or numb

  • Work performance is declining significantly

  • Sleep is severely disrupted

  • You are withdrawing socially

  • You are thinking about self-harm

 

In Canada, family physicians, psychologists, occupational therapists, and psychiatrists may assess and diagnose adjustment disorder.

 

 

How Is Adjustment Disorder Treated?

 

Evidence-based interventions include:

 

  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

  • Stress management training

  • Problem-solving therapy

  • Occupational therapy (functional recovery focus)

  • Workplace accommodations

 

Pharmacological treatment is typically short-term and symptom-targeted.

 

Reference:

O’Donnell et al. (2018). Adjustment disorder: A review of treatment options. Current Psychiatry Reports, 20(10).

 

 

Why Burnout Is Increasing

 

Post-pandemic workforce research shows elevated burnout in healthcare, education, and tech sectors.

 

Contributing factors:

 

  • Remote work boundary erosion

  • Increased productivity pressure

  • Staffing shortages

  • Economic instability

 

The World Health Organization has called burnout a growing occupational health concern globally.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

Is burnout a mental illness?

 

No. It is classified as an occupational phenomenon (ICD-11), not a mental disorder.

 

 

Can I be diagnosed with burnout?

 

Clinicians may document burnout, but adjustment disorder or depression are diagnosable conditions.

 

 

How long does adjustment disorder last?

 

Symptoms typically resolve within 6 months after the stressor ends (DSM-5-TR).

 

 

Can you get disability leave for burnout?

 

Leave is typically granted based on functional impairment and medical assessment — often documented as adjustment disorder, depression, or anxiety.

 

 

The Bottom Line

 

If you feel exhausted, disconnected, or unable to cope with change:

 

You are not weak.

You are not failing.

You may be experiencing a stress-related condition that is common and treatable.

 

Burnout and adjustment disorder are signals — not verdicts.

 

Understanding the difference matters because treatment, documentation, and recovery planning differ.

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed., text rev.).

 

Bianchi, R., Schonfeld, I. S., & Laurent, E. (2015). Burnout–depression overlap. Clinical Psychology Review, 36, 28–41.

 

Casey, P. (2014). Adjustment disorder: epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment. CNS Drugs, 28(1), 1–12.

 

Maslach, C., & Leiter, M. P. (2016). Understanding the burnout experience. Annual Review of Psychology, 67, 397–422.

 

O’Donnell, M. L., et al. (2018). Adjustment disorder review. Current Psychiatry Reports, 20(10).

 

Salvagioni, D. A. J., et al. (2017). Physical, psychological and occupational consequences of job burnout. PLoS ONE, 12(10).

 

World Health Organization. (2019). Burn-out an “occupational phenomenon”: ICD-11.

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