Generally speaking, “mental” tends to refer to cognitive skills, like thinking, memory, decision making, and problem-solving. “Emotional,” on the other hand, has to do with feelings, including your ability to identify, process, and express them.

You might notice emotional exhaustion when navigating difficult, painful, or unwanted feelings, such as:
▪️grief
▪️sadness
▪️anger
▪️loneliness
▪️anxiety

Both mental and emotional exhaustion can leave you feeling detached, unmotivated, apathetic, and trapped. The challenges you’re facing might seem impossible to overcome, and you might feel too drained to keep trying.

If burnout comes to mind, you’re on the right track — burnout can stem from emotional and mental fatigue.