Which term describes the state of emotional fatigue resulting from long-term stress?

The term that best describes the state of emotional fatigue resulting from long-term stress is burnout. Burnout is characterized by a consistent feeling of mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion and is often associated with prolonged exposure to stressors, particularly in work or caregiving environments. It can lead to feelings of detachment, lack of accomplishment, and a decrease in motivation. The concept emphasizes a decline in mental health and overall well-being resulting from cumulative stress rather than a temporary state of being overwhelmed or stressed.

While stress refers to the body's response to challenges or demands, it does not fully encapsulate the long-term fatigue aspect of burnout. Exhaustion may capture some aspects of tiredness but lacks the specific connotation of prolonged impact and emotional depletion associated with burnout. Overwhelm implies a temporary inability to cope with current demands and does not represent the chronic state that burnout indicates. Therefore, burnout is the most precise and comprehensive term among the options provided to describe the combination of physical and emotional fatigue from sustained stress.