Depletion

Depletion is the system’s report that reserves have dropped below the operating minimum.

The Capacity entry covers daily budget fluctuation. The Burnout entry covers chronic energy deficit. Depletion is the acute version — the moment when the reserves, across one or more systems, hit a level where function degrades measurably. The organism cannot think clearly. The emotional regulation fails at minor triggers. The body produces fatigue signals the willpower cannot override.

The signal is not negotiable. The system has reached a threshold. Below it, performance degrades regardless of intention, motivation, or urgency. The mind may insist the organism should be able to continue. The hardware has stopped cooperating.

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To assess depletion: check which reserves are low. Cognitive depletion — the mind can’t concentrate, decisions degrade, errors increase. Emotional depletion — the regulation system has no margin, minor signals produce major responses. Physical depletion — the body sends fatigue signals that override attention. Social depletion — the system has nothing left for interaction, the impulse is withdrawal.

The remedy is specific to the depleted resource, not generic. Cognitive depletion requires rest from processing, not rest from movement. Physical depletion requires sleep and fuel, not social stimulation. Emotional depletion may require discharge (the Crying entry’s mechanism) or reduced signal input. Treating all depletion the same — “just rest” — misidentifies which reserve is empty.