In high-powered and/or service-driven professions, burnout is an ever-present concern. It can feel like you are needed in a million places at once until you become like a wheel burning rubber, moving fast to nowhere. How does someone find peace when the world refuses to slow down? Luckily, there are strategies and resources available to allow for coping and healing.

In order to figure out how best to address your symptoms, it is helpful first to determine what exactly the root cause or diagnosis is. Depression and burnout can have very similar presentations and therefore cause confusion. In common language, burnout and depression are often referred to interchangeably to describe feeling hopeless, empty and unable to cope. As noted in Medical News Today, burnout often mirrors depression, but it is not classified as its own medical condition. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines it as an occupational issue, while the American Psychiatric Association (APA) considers burnout as an intense experience rather than a clearly defined diagnosis. It emerges typically as a negative emotional downturn triggered by prolonged interpersonal work stressors.

Burnout is common among service-focused and compassionate professionals, which is why it is sometimes referred to as compassion fatigue in a service setting. High-stress jobs where burnout is often observed include social workers, teachers, doctors, nurses and therapists. Burnout is typically situational in nature, so when the major stressors related to the job are alleviated, the strong emotions tend to level out as well.

Depression however is a clinical diagnosis that often runs deeper than stress management. Depression is not necessarily caused by a particular event or set of circumstances, but rather stems from a chemical imbalance in the brain that must be corrected through therapeutic means. Depression can develop at any time and in any environment. To receive a diagnosis of depression, a person needs to have experienced at least two weeks of several depression symptoms that cause a change in the person’s former functioning. Recognized potential depression symptoms are:

  • Somber mood
  • Lack of energy
  • Disinterest in once loved activities
  • Appetite changes
  • Focus challenges
  • Feelings of hopelessness or guilt
  • Suicidal thoughts or actions

Some relief from depression and burnout symptoms can be found in proper diet, exercise and sleep regimens, as well as mediation and other common stress relief techniques.

Depression/Burnout Resources for Life University (Life U) students

To say that collegiate studies can be a little stressful is quite an understatement. Burnout, in particular, can be a risk for our D.C. students if stress is not kept in check, as it is a fast-paced program that requires attention to detail and hard work. Fear not, however, as Counseling Services at Life U are available to help students cope with stress in healthy ways. In order to help make sure that our student body understands the resources available to them, here is an outline of our counseling programs and workshops.

For a full list of all counseling resources, visit life.edu/campus-life-pages/counseling/.

Counseling Services is located in the Guy F. Riekman, D.C. Center for Chiropractic Education (RCCE). For an individualized response to setting up counseling support, fill out the Counseling Support section on the bottom of the Counseling Services page linked above.

Student Assistance Program (SAP)- Life University offers individual and couples counseling through the Student Assistance Program (SAP). SAP provides 24/7 availability of an off-campus counselor via phone.

Life U students can request face-to-face visits with an off-campus therapist and will be provided with six free sessions per year. In addition, students have six free coaching sessions available (telephonic), a text option for services as well as a dedicated Life U phone number. With the use of the dedicated phone number, students receive unlimited calls for services and immediate help from a mental health professional.

This service allows students consistent availability, including nights, weekends and/or holidays, with a licensed mental health professional outside of the University. In addition, the service can be utilized by students’ dependents, which include spouses and children. You can contact SAP directly at 866.734.5890, text 94097 and/or request support at (password – lifeu). A Counselor can also assist you in contacting SAP.

Counseling Wellness Workshops- During each quarter, Counseling Services offers several wellness workshops to give students a chance to discuss relevant therapeutic topics in a safe space, group environment. All wellness workshops and activities are held via Zoom unless otherwise noted in the event description listed on the Counseling Services page, under the “Counseling Wellness Workshops” tab. Visit Engage.life.edu to locate Zoom links or other information for each event.

Wellness Wednesday (Weeks: 2, 4, 6, 8 & 10) is a popular wellness workshop program that highlights problems that students might be facing and offers possible strategies.

The important thing to remember when experiencing depression or burnout symptoms is not to bottle it up. It is important to reach out to trusted friends who can relate and provide emotional support, as well as exploring additional health and wellness resources that are available to you.