Don’t wait to get help

Donna outlines her symptoms of burnout, from physical changes in sleep and diet to feelings of detachment. She shares helpful coping tips and the positive support she got from her workplace.

 

I used to work in the business and admin support division of a software engineering company. I’m not sure exactly what caused my burnout, but I remember starting to feel detached and demotivated from my job. I’ve always been a hard worker, someone who thrives on being busy, but something had changed and it wasn’t the job I once enjoyed. I wasn’t taking regular time off because I was keen to prove myself and move into a different area of the business that interested me.

I first noticed something wasn’t right when I was becoming irritated at work very easily and making really silly mistakes which I wouldn’t normally do. Headaches became frequent, my appetite went, and I couldn’t sleep at night. I was craving salt, sugar, and junk food, putting weight on. I stopped doing things I enjoyed. I often had crying spells during work hours. I felt as if I was just going through the motions each day. I didn’t really want to do anything outside of work.

"I think the moment I realised I was experiencing burnout was when I came across a GP on social media talking about their experience with it.

I recognised everything they spoke about — how they felt and the symptoms they experienced."

– Donna

Up until this point, I knew something was very wrong but I didn’t know what. I’d never heard of burnout before. I learned that it can take anything from a few months up to a year to get over it. I was shocked.

I just wanted to feel like myself again — to sleep well, eat well, and enjoy the things I used to. I started reading up on burnout and how to heal. I knew I had to make changes right away but it was daunting. I didn’t know how long it would take for me to recover or if I could. I felt quite down about it all. I didn’t really think about the future. I just kept reminding myself that I need to make changes and get better.

I struggled through work for maybe four or five months before realising I needed to take further action. My GP signed me off for a few weeks before I went back to work on a phased return.

"The company I worked for at the time did sessions of various mental health issues and advertised their support services. I sought help from my workplace; having access to counselling was great and I made use of that."

– Donna

I also started practicing meditation a few times a week, or when I felt stressed, and went on walks in nature for some gentle exercise. I took herbal supplements and started reading again. I tried somatic exercises and went for regular massages. I reached out to close friends when I was really struggling. I think a combination of all of these things really helped.

Don’t wait to get help. If you feel just a little bit stressed, seek support. I wish I had known about burnout before, but I’ve learnt that I am stronger than I think.

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