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."
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."
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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