Which conditions that are not a topic for coaching can be linked to burnout syndrome?

Which questions on “Conditions alongside burnout” does exburnout.com answer?

• How can I tell burnout from depression?According to the WHO, burnout is an occupational phenomenon and is not classified as an illness. Depression is an illness with defined criteria. The two overlap strongly in studies. The distinction matters, because effective treatments exist for depression.
• Why do so many people not think of their thyroid when they feel low?An underactive thyroid often develops slowly with mild symptoms such as tiredness, low mood or difficulty concentrating. These are not easy to notice and can have many other causes. A blood test measuring TSH and thyroid hormones can show whether the thyroid is underactive.
• Why am I always tired and quickly out of breath?Constant tiredness with shortness of breath can point to, for example, anaemia. The WHO describes anaemia with fatigue, reduced physical work capacity and shortness of breath. A blood count can show anaemia.
• Could my snoring be why I am so exhausted during the day?Loud snoring with breathing pauses can point to sleep apnoea. It can cause severe daytime tiredness, poor concentration and mood swings. According to the NHS, sleep apnoea should be treated because it can lead to more serious problems.
• What is the difference between obstructive and central sleep apnoea?In obstructive sleep apnoea, the upper airway is blocked during sleep, for example by the tongue. In central sleep apnoea, the problem lies in how the brain controls breathing. A sleep study can show which form is present.
• Why do I feel worse for days after exertion?Symptoms getting worse after physical or mental activity, possibly taking weeks to get better, are one of the main symptoms of ME/CFS. If ME/CFS is suspected, activating programmes are contraindicated according to the guideline, meaning they should not be used.
• Why have I been exhausted ever since having COVID?Lasting exhaustion after COVID-19 can point to post COVID-19 condition. According to the WHO, it usually starts within 3 months of the infection and lasts at least 2 months. It can come with, for example, fatigue, difficulty concentrating and impaired sleep.
• Why am I constantly tense, irritable and exhausted?Constant tension with irritability and exhaustion can point to, for example, an anxiety disorder. According to the WHO, there are highly effective treatments for anxiety disorders.
• Should I get my cortisol tested to prove burnout?A systematic review found no differences in the cortisol awakening response or in blood cortisol between people with and without burnout. It could not name a biomarker for burnout, largely because the studies were hard to compare. According to the Endocrine Society, tests for so-called “adrenal fatigue” are not based on scientific facts. Real adrenal insufficiency belongs in a medical assessment.
• Can an NAD+ infusion help with burnout?A benefit of NAD+ infusions for burnout is not supported by evidence. A systematic review from 2026 found no evaluable outcome trial of intravenous NAD+ for anti-aging or wellness purposes. A real lack of niacin, a precursor of NAD, can show itself as pellagra, which doctors recognise mainly from the clinical picture.
• When is NAD+ treatment medically supported?Niacinamide, a precursor of NAD, is supported in pellagra, the severe form of niacin deficiency. For NAD precursors or NADH there are first trials, for example in COVID-19 (nicotinamide) and in ME/CFS (NADH together with coenzyme Q10). For NAD+ as an infusion, outcome trials are lacking.
• Is NAD+ for burnout based on folk experience or on scientific evidence?For NAD+ in burnout, proof of benefit is lacking. The biochemistry of NAD+ is well researched. No placebo-controlled trial of NAD+ in people with burnout has so far been published in PubMed or registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (as of October 2026). Taking NAD+ therefore remains a self-experiment at one’s own expense: with a biochemically grounded idea and without proof of benefit in burnout.
• Could my medicines be the reason I feel so tired?Medicines and alcohol are among the possible causes of tiredness that the German fatigue guideline names. According to gesund.bund.de, certain medicines can cause complaints similar to burnout.
• Why am I always tired and constantly thirsty?Constant tiredness with strong thirst and frequent urination can point to diabetes. According to the WHO, symptoms of type 2 diabetes can be mild and take years to be noticed. Blood sugar is part of the basic tests for exhaustion.