Burnout is most likely to be a structural problem. The way modern lifestyles trigger the body to be on constant alert, for example, is definitely part of the story.Depression, on the other hand, has a different core trigger: “Your self-esteem or self-worth is being affected,” she says.
But prolonged exposure to stress can dysregulate the autonomic nervous system. In a healthy person this system knows when to rev up in response to threat and calm down again. But in a person with burnout these messages become confused. "This seems counterintuitive. Many people think less cortisol equals less stress but in fact it means overaction of the HPA axis in chronic stress/burnout affects the day-to-day functioning of cortisol leading to abnormalities," Tavella says.
Take calming breaths regularly. Do some exercise so you can still talk but feel slightly out of breath. Eat nutritiously and focus on sensible sleep patterns. "These are solid ways of sending a message to your internal systems that you are safe."Constantly seeking to retain control of everything keeps the sense of threat alive. Overcome this by doing things that bring you joy and feel engrossing. Connect with friends, find a creative outlet.
“If you're extroverted, you're probably more likely to have support networks, as well as being more likely to collaborate to overcome problems,” Tavella suggests.
In Sweden Burnout is considered as a mental condition.