For me, taking a walk in nature, reading, and sketching/water color painting are my best tools. These are activities I can do that completely shut off my anxious brain. I have experienced burn out a couple times in my life and one was so bad I couldn’t leave the bed for a couple days. I have learned better skills over the years and thankfully the circumstances that led to the burnout improved. I feel like I will be healing for the rest of my life.
These words ring so true. Healing, as you put it, is a lifelong journey. Walking in nature is number one for me, too. It's the quickest way to feel re-rooted and calm my nervous system. Hope all is well on your end, Renee, with navigating the shift in your career. H x
Hi Hannah, I’ve just found you and this post. The algorithm on Substack (or the forces that be) brings me exactly what I need to hear and read. This is me reading your article 🫠 because I’m on my own healing journey and it’s a lonely path — to come across other folk, who ‘get it’ is a deep out breath. My burnout/breakdown happened after my third birth. My body just had enough. That last baby I had is now 3 years old and I’ve been trying ever since to make sense of it all (I have fibromyalgia, CFS, CPTSD, PMDD…I’m literally collecting letters of the alphabet out here!)
Thank you for your words and vulnerability. I’m going to binge read some more of work this evening, so no doubt I’ll see you in the comment section. I really hope your healing journey continues to take you to a place of peace and that you share all the gems along the way 💛
Louise! Thank you for sharing your story and kind words. I'm so glad our experiences found their way to one another. As you said, it's certainly less lonely once you find others who can understand. Sending love and healing your way, take care! ❤️
Thank you for reading, Jessica! It's not uncommon, unfortunately. But I think we're starting to get braver about opening up and sharing our experiences, which certainly helps us feel less alone!
I loved this. I’ve experienced burn out this year, it’s all encompassing. Swimming outside, walking over the fields and exercising to old school hip hop sometimes helps!
It’s a process and hard to navigate. Thank you for your enlightening and comforting words x
I’m sorry to hear that, Rebecca. It really is. Sounds like you’re doing all the right things. Swimming outside is a beautiful one - something I love too!
Thank you so much for reading and sharing your experience H x
Learning how to recover too. Sometimes I think Im okay, then wham, someone says something, or I read something discriminatory, or realize Im still numb and just 'getting through'. There doesn't appear to be any real breakthrough or progress. The days roll on by. Yet no one would know🙂.
Ugh, yes, Shana. Recovery is a silent journey, like you said - not like breaking a limb where the injury is obvious to the outside world. Some days you think you have a handle on it, and others it feels impossible. Definitely with you on that one. H x
Sensory rest! I don’t think this one is talked about enough. I have to drive home from work in quiet because I’m so overstimulated from a day at work. I adore sensory rest.
I'm right there with you learning to recognise the signs of my periods of burnout before it snowballs and stepping up the rest and wellbeing to counter it. I write about similar topics myself, it would be fun to collaborate some day! Just this week I could feel the telltale exhaustion creeping in, and when some additional family stress landed, the combination sent me back to the sofa with a hot water bottle and a good book.
For me, taking a walk in nature, reading, and sketching/water color painting are my best tools. These are activities I can do that completely shut off my anxious brain. I have experienced burn out a couple times in my life and one was so bad I couldn’t leave the bed for a couple days. I have learned better skills over the years and thankfully the circumstances that led to the burnout improved. I feel like I will be healing for the rest of my life.
These words ring so true. Healing, as you put it, is a lifelong journey. Walking in nature is number one for me, too. It's the quickest way to feel re-rooted and calm my nervous system. Hope all is well on your end, Renee, with navigating the shift in your career. H x
Hi Hannah, I’ve just found you and this post. The algorithm on Substack (or the forces that be) brings me exactly what I need to hear and read. This is me reading your article 🫠 because I’m on my own healing journey and it’s a lonely path — to come across other folk, who ‘get it’ is a deep out breath. My burnout/breakdown happened after my third birth. My body just had enough. That last baby I had is now 3 years old and I’ve been trying ever since to make sense of it all (I have fibromyalgia, CFS, CPTSD, PMDD…I’m literally collecting letters of the alphabet out here!)
Thank you for your words and vulnerability. I’m going to binge read some more of work this evening, so no doubt I’ll see you in the comment section. I really hope your healing journey continues to take you to a place of peace and that you share all the gems along the way 💛
Louise! Thank you for sharing your story and kind words. I'm so glad our experiences found their way to one another. As you said, it's certainly less lonely once you find others who can understand. Sending love and healing your way, take care! ❤️
Hannah!! Our stories are similar in many ways: https://neurodivergentnotes.substack.com/p/finding-hope-and-beauty-in-the-fallow. Also your comment on forever recovering from burnout - it's sad, but I feel the same!
Thank you for reading, Jessica! It's not uncommon, unfortunately. But I think we're starting to get braver about opening up and sharing our experiences, which certainly helps us feel less alone!
I loved this. I’ve experienced burn out this year, it’s all encompassing. Swimming outside, walking over the fields and exercising to old school hip hop sometimes helps!
It’s a process and hard to navigate. Thank you for your enlightening and comforting words x
I’m sorry to hear that, Rebecca. It really is. Sounds like you’re doing all the right things. Swimming outside is a beautiful one - something I love too!
Thank you so much for reading and sharing your experience H x
Learning how to recover too. Sometimes I think Im okay, then wham, someone says something, or I read something discriminatory, or realize Im still numb and just 'getting through'. There doesn't appear to be any real breakthrough or progress. The days roll on by. Yet no one would know🙂.
Ugh, yes, Shana. Recovery is a silent journey, like you said - not like breaking a limb where the injury is obvious to the outside world. Some days you think you have a handle on it, and others it feels impossible. Definitely with you on that one. H x
Sensory rest! I don’t think this one is talked about enough. I have to drive home from work in quiet because I’m so overstimulated from a day at work. I adore sensory rest.
Yes! I have to stop myself from filling the silence. It's such a knee-jerk reaction. I also love a silent drive in the car, so calming! H x
I'm right there with you learning to recognise the signs of my periods of burnout before it snowballs and stepping up the rest and wellbeing to counter it. I write about similar topics myself, it would be fun to collaborate some day! Just this week I could feel the telltale exhaustion creeping in, and when some additional family stress landed, the combination sent me back to the sofa with a hot water bottle and a good book.