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We talk about the "burnout epidemic" as if it's a virus spreading through the workforce.

While labeling your emotions is helpful, labeling an identity has some drawbacks.

Exhaustion and burnout have different causes and different solutions.

Burnout has become a self-diagnosed condition that gets used often. We talk about the "burnout epidemic" as if it's a virus spreading through the workforce. And that framing may be part of the problem.

Believing you're burned out might actually be burning you out.

Burnout Is Real—But So Is Misdiagnosis

A therapist isn't going to diagnose you with burnout the way you might receive a diagnosis of major depression or generalized anxiety. But that doesn't mean it isn't real.

The World Health Organization defines burnout as an occupational condition characterized by feelings of energy depletion and exhaustion, increased mental distance or cynicism toward one's job, and reduced professional efficacy. Additionally, the WHO specifies that burnout refers specifically to the workplace. It's not a catch-all term for feeling overwhelmed by parenting, household duties, and other areas of your life.

That distinction matters. Because when we use words like "burnout epidemic," we're implying that burnout is like a disease spreading beyond our control and that none of us are immune. In reality, burnout might be more preventable than we think.

What the Research Says About Labels

While labeling your emotions is helpful, labeling an identity has drawbacks. Neuroscience backs this up.

A UCLA neuroimaging study found that labeling an emotion by saying things like, “I feel anxious” or........

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