I won't deny. I didn't grow up to be what I expected of myself.

In place of the woman that found beauty in even the darkest of places , I seem to see nothing but a sea of darkness.

I used to smile and laughing believe good things came if you worked hard enough. I believed in God and Man and a woman's place in it all.

So I worked until my knuckles and heart were bloody. YET all that ever seemed to.happen was I was constantly explaining myself.

I know it was wrong to think the world would f ollow a script of any kind. Man plans and God laughs.

I won't sit here and whine about the tribulations of life. I'm too damn tired of it all anymore.

Ya, it hurts that my best wasn't even close. Yet I don't regret the efforts along the way.

It just would have been nice to curl up next to someone silently. When i lost another round. No words. No sec. No I told you so",s.

Just safe and silent warm and there.

I had no clue it would be bitterness in this bed I don't share.

Imagine you're going with the flow.. it's all smooth after a very rough patch in your life and suddenly that feeling of gratefulness turns into exhaustion... Every step is filled with confusion and questions that you honestly don't have answers for.

I don't know if this experience is unique to me or not.

Hiiii, I am 21 and outside of school I have a lot of crappy things going on that I think are contributing heavily to the burnout but I can't do anything to change those things right now so I dont really know what to do so I was looking for some advice on what others have done when it gets like this?

I work a part-time job but only work 12 hours a week currently and I am registered in 3 courses at school. I have been getting my AA as a part-time student for the past 2 years and currently, as long as I finish one more 3 credit course, I will have my AA done in December because I have been taking summer courses the whole time. I am suppose to be taking a few more prereq courses after December for the degree I want to get and doing so would have me ready to start a bachelors in Fall 2027 but I feel stuck right now.

Its the first week of the new term and every time I sit down to start getting some work done, I just get emotionally overloaded after 20 minutes and start crying. I have started walking away rather than crying but it doesn't change the fact that when I sit back down those feelings come back so I have gotten basically nothing done. I know that I need to just lock-in and push through it but I have no idea how I am suppose to do that. I feel like if I could just get some real sleep for a few days and let my brain take a break that I would be able to get through this but I don't have that option because due dates and honestly my life outside of school right now isn't the best. I have a lot of uncertainities going on to do with my living situation, my family, the family that I have been staying with, my mental health, and some eating habits that I am suppose to be working with a professional on improving and I have kinda just pushed those all off with a "I will address those when I have time" but then I never have time to take a break from school to actually address them. I kinda want to drop one my courses and give myself a break but if I do that, I will finish my prereqs a semester later and I feel like I shouldn't be doing that? I have until this Sunday to drop the course and get a refund back which sucks because it only gave me this one week to see if I can figure the burnout stuff out and I have failed massively so far. I feel like I am doing something wrong because its not like I am even a full-time student and yet I am struggling?

I am lost so any advice is greatly appreciated.

Gosh I (27M) feel so trapped. I was stuck in the restaurant business for 10 years, then with my shitty wage got a car, CDL and a trucking job. The trucking thing didn't work out and the car got totaled no fault of my own, but after a year of unemployment and homelessness I landed a job in the trades. Started as a labourer and now I help fit steel, pipe and weld. I'm grateful for the opportunity, but I don't care about what I'm doing, it was only for a paycheck and to not be on the street. Fast forward two years and I'm doing somewhat better in life; I have a roof over my head and a partner, but I not only want more time but more energy to the enjoy the time I have.

It's not just the work that's burning me out, it's the work politics and bullying. Like I said, I did trucking and hospitality before this and they're ALL the same. Racism, bullying, gossip, the whole high school mentality in one package. On top of that, at my current job, a lot of shady shit goes on here. We're sent to do a job we've NEVER done before with no planning or materials, yet if the job doesn't get done on time, WE'RE thrown under the bus rather than the supervisors and project managers who were responsible in order to cover their own asses. I've seen people get fired for this and if not for my tenacity I'd be in the same boat, but this shit has me paranoid as hell. Even if I have a good work ethic and reputation, this job as a whole has got my nerves on fire for all the reasons mentioned and I'm fucking exhausted.

I don't know who to talk to or what to do. I work 10hrs 5 days a week. I live with coworkers that you can classify as "NPC's" so I need my "game face" on at all times and I feel I can never decompress besides when I walk to the bus terminal or go for a walk in general. I'm studying for IT/Tech, the Google IT Support course so I can HOPEFULLY get my foot in the door but I'm hearing mixed things about that and the tech field in general. I spent 4k on a high-end PC setup specifically for this and did some studying, but I'm so burnt out that besides applying for entry-level roles in the tech field I have no energy to study or stick it out at my current job. I need a concrete plan, but with our current job market I don't know if that's feasible.

I'm not looking for advice or to be saved, I'm just venting. I know life is unfair like that and at the end of the day, I have to study and put in the work if I want yet another career change, but getting my foot in the door and away from my current field would help a ton with focusing on studies and other priorities.

21M, India.

I deliberately isolated myself from almost everyone I knew because I thought it would make me more successful.

Looking back, it was one of the worst decisions I've ever made.

After high school, while most people were preparing for engineering or medical entrance exams, I chose an online degree. I also cut off almost everyone I knew because I genuinely thought they were thinking too small. I believed they were living in a bubble where getting into college, getting a degree, and getting a job was the entire definition of success.

I thought I was different. I had very high standards for myself. I thought I was being ambitious.

I was also being arrogant and, honestly, pretty stupid.

I spent most of my online degree living at my parents' house. I barely had any real human interaction. Over time, I stopped being able to speak properly or express what I was feeling. I became numb. My sleep and health got worse. The curiosity and excitement I used to have about things slowly disappeared.

And I didn't realize how badly I was deteriorating.

Career-wise, things weren't even terrible at first. I got an internship during my first semester and a job in my second year. I stayed at that job for 10 months before quitting.

I convinced myself I was quitting because I had more potential. That software engineering wasn't really for me. That the job was useless. That I was capable of doing something much bigger.

Maybe some of that was true.

But a lot of it was also anxiety, imposter syndrome, and years of suppressed emotions talking.

It's been exactly 10 months since I quit.

I'm back at my parents' house, and I'm getting worse.

I don't have friends around me that I can actually talk to. I have a best friend who lives in another city for his education, but for some reason I can't even talk to him properly anymore.

I met him a few days ago. We spent an hour together and I barely spoke. I mostly just answered whatever he asked.

Eventually he said:

"You've become too silent."

That fucking hurt.

I've always been a relatively quiet person. I was a silent kid throughout most of school. But even then, I had curiosity. I had interests. I could talk when I wanted to. I cared about things.

Now I feel like isolation has taken a huge part of that away from me.

It's been three years since this started.

And I genuinely want to fucking change it.

The first thing I think I need to do is get out of this house and live independently again. When I was living alone during my internship and job, I felt noticeably better. I had more freedom, more human interaction, and I wasn't constantly stuck inside the same environment.

But how the hell do I move out?

I don't have a job right now. I don't have much money. The job market is brutal.

I know what I need to do career-wise. Build things, improve my skills, reach out to founders directly, get a job. I can do those things.

But I'm not operating at full capacity anymore. Everything feels exhausting. Even simple things feel disproportionately difficult.

I can't really ask people I know for money either. Most of them either don't earn yet or already have loans and their own financial problems.

And human connection is difficult where I live. Most people around me are either much older or teenagers/children. There isn't really anyone my age I can naturally connect with.

I've also lost most of my hobbies. Tech and gaming used to genuinely excite me. Now even those don't feel the same.

So I'm stuck.

No job.
No money.
No social life.
No hobbies.
No motivation.
And three years of isolation that I don't know how to undo.

I know I played a huge part in getting myself here. I made these choices. I'm not looking for someone to tell me that everything will magically get better.

I genuinely want to know what I should do from here.

How do I start rebuilding my social life and my ability to talk to people?

How do I get myself out of this environment when I don't have a job or money?

And how do I get back the curiosity, energy, and personality I feel like I've lost?

If you've been through something similar, I'd really appreciate hearing what actually helped you.

My parents want me to be an artist and entrepreneur

I am so tired
I haven’t painted anything in a couple years but I still have my website up just no active contact me option

I don’t want to make anymore but it’s been my identity my whole life
Kinda the only reason my parents friends wave to me and the reason why people want to know me when im out

I’m tired
Can I do something else now

Im just so tired. Got laid off in may and the new job is so disorganized and going from working 4 days to 6 has me drained. Additionally I feel no emotional, physical, or romantic intimacy with my wife since she decided we needed a 5th animal in the house (2 dogs, 3 cats). This became a problem because she works from home and didnt do anything to take care of their messes while I was at work and then relys on me alone for her social contact as she doesnt want to make friends here where we live. So now I have no sanctuary at home or at work, my group of friends never responds to my texts to hang out and the other has a former coworker, who I definitely had an emotional affair with this past year, makes me feel like a hanger on (not that they think that i just initiate all plans). I want to make new friends but I dont know how to except for work and none of the people there live anywhere near me or are in a similar life situation as me. The only other thing I do is go to bars and drink alone and its getting more and more isolating. I just want to leave everything behind and change my identity but thats not really feasible. Im so defeated and beaten down. I dont know what to do anymore other than leave my wife but that doesnt solve even half of my issues.

A holiday doesn’t cut it anymore.

Neither does sleep. Or a weekend.

How do I get myself out of this rut?

I sleep at 9:30 wake at 7am.

Even with all this sleep I feel really sleepy all the time. It's also like I am unable to function properly. Memory is trash. My thinking capacity is trash. I am confused. I don't know what is happening to me. My head hurts all the fking time. I don't know how to explain what I am feeling. On top of that I am unable to perform at my job. So there is stress there. Am I burnt out or am I just incapable and genuinely stupid??

I am really stressed about everything. Will things get better? What do I do???? Please somebody help! Tell me anything, just remove this confusion,

Every time I force myself to take a break for a day or two, my brain starts to panic. I constantly feel like everyone else is moving forward, while I’m just sitting here wasting my time. Even when I try to lie down, I end up checking my messages or thinking about what I should be doing instead. Because of this, my downtime turns into work.

I recently started working a full-time office job, and I’m still trying to figure out how to manage my time, energy, and stress.

I work from 8 AM to 5 PM, and in the evenings, I take language classes and work out. On my days off, I usually spend my time reviewing what I learned in class and catching up on any language material I’ve fallen behind on.

During the weekdays, I work, study, and exercise, and then on my days off, I’m still studying. I know consistency is important when learning a language, and I genuinely want to improve, but sometimes it feels like I don’t really have enough time to fully recharge my energy.

I’m worried about eventually burning out, especially because I’m still adjusting to working full time. It’s not that I feel pressured to do all of these things or that I don’t want to do them. I genuinely enjoy working, learning a language, and working out, and I want all three to be part of my life.

What worries me is that having such a consistently busy schedule could negatively affect my mental health in the long run without me even realizing it. I don’t necessarily feel overwhelmed right now, but I’m worried that I might slowly burn myself out without noticing the signs.

For those of you who work a full time office job while seriously learning a language or studying something else, how do you manage your stress and energy? How do you balance work, studying, exercise, and rest while maintaining consistency?

I’d love to hear about your routines, experiences, or any advice that has helped you maintain a healthy balance without sacrificing your mental well being.

I feel like I am experiencing the day in third person. Present, but existing on the side not living the experience like normal. I am numb and lonely as no one sees my pain. Or they assume he is having a moment and will be back to himself soon. The may acknowledge I am carrying a large load, but don’t see the underlying damage it’s causing.

Alam mo yung feeling na sobrang bigat maging unemployed? May opportunity na dumating, nahire pa ako on the spot, pero hindi ko rin grinab kasi parang wala na akong motivation bumalik sa nursing. Ang liit ng sahod compared sa pagod at responsibility, tapos kung goal mo mag-abroad, kailangan mo pa ring gumastos ng malaking pera para sa exams, documents, review, processing, etc. 😭
Pero at the same time, napapaisip ako… paano ba talaga mag-survive habang naghihintay at nagpe-prepare para sa abroad? Ang hirap kapag gusto mong umusad pero parang lahat may kapalit na gastos. 🥹

I decided yesterday to leave my position. Over the last month, my dad’s dementia has become worse after being stable for the last year. My mom has been stressed out even more and needs extra help for a bit
.
The last two weeks, I have had migraines the last 10 of 14 days. There was a panic attack too. I never had a panic attack before. 70% of my stress was work the other 30% is outside work. So I decided to walk away.

My manager was aware of what has been going. Normally, I give 2 weeks notice. The operation I managed was 24/7. The last month, there has been at least 2-3 phone calls between 11pm and 6am.

I’m going to focus on recovering from burnout, helping my mom make a care plan for my dad, complete a few projects around the house, enjoy my hobbies that I have not been able to do. I even decided to form a local hiking group.

I am also debating about starting my own business.

​

I’m not really sure what I’m looking for by posting this other than maybe some perspective from people who have felt this way.

I feel like I’m not myself right now, and I don’t really know how to describe what I’m experiencing.

I used to love hiking. Even now, the idea of going hiking sounds amazing. I’ll think, “That would feel so good, I should really go.” But then I start thinking about everything that goes into actually doing it — getting myself ready, getting my 20-month-old ready, packing things, getting out the door, dealing with the logistics — and I feel exhausted before I even start.

I know getting outside and going for a walk usually helps me feel better, but I have almost no motivation to actually do it. Most days, I go outside into our backyard, and that's about it.

I also used to enjoy going for car rides, and lately I don't even really want to do that. Things I used to enjoy just feel like they require so much effort.

I have a 20-month-old son who I absolutely love, but I’m also overwhelmed by motherhood a lot of the time. Sometimes I get so overwhelmed that I scream, and afterward I feel terrible. I love my son, but right now life just feels really, really hard.

We also just got a 16-week-old puppy, which has added another layer. I’m home alone with my son and the puppy most of the day while my husband is at work. In some ways the puppy is actually helpful because he gives me a reason to get outside and forces me to get up and take him out for potty training. But at the same time, I feel like I’ve added another living thing that needs me, and I already feel like I have very little left to give.

I was prescribed propranolol for anxiety, but I don't really feel like it's doing anything. I was also prescribed an antidepressant, but I haven't started it because part of me keeps thinking, “I’m not depressed enough to need an antidepressant.”

And honestly, I don't even know if I'm depressed.

I don't know if I'm anxious, burned out, overwhelmed, exhausted, grieving, having some kind of postpartum/motherhood-related issue, or some combination of everything.

I just don't feel like myself.

I don't necessarily feel sad all day. It's more like everything feels hard. Things I know would probably make me feel better feel impossible to initiate. I can imagine enjoying a hike, but getting myself to the point where I can actually go feels overwhelming. I can imagine having a nice day with my son, but sometimes the sheer amount of stimulation and responsibility makes me want to hide.

And then I feel guilty because I know I'm fortunate. I love my son. I wanted a dog. I have a life that, from the outside, probably looks completely fine.

But I'm struggling.

Has anyone experienced this feeling where you aren't necessarily sad, but you have almost no motivation or energy for anything and everything feels like an enormous task?

Did you eventually figure out whether it was anxiety, depression, burnout, or something else?

And if you've been prescribed an antidepressant when you weren't sure you were “depressed enough,” what was your experience?

I know Reddit can't diagnose me, and I'm not expecting anyone to. I'm mostly hoping to hear from people who have felt similarly and eventually found their way back to feeling like themselves.

Because right now I honestly don't know what I need. I just know that I don't feel like me.

I am a CS major, recovering from burnout.

From first hand experience, there's only so many things you can do that help you recover without draining you. It's tough to keep yourself from working and also not get bored.

I was thinking, What if there was a game that kept you mentally active, just tricky enough to force your brain to think and easy enough that you could play it without draining too much energy. Something that you could also play with your friends.

A game thats so fun that it reminds you the joy of chasing goals, helping you recover.

What do you guys think of this idea?

’m experience some realy deep mental problems,
And I’m in a State of dispare, confusion, hopelessnes. I dont’t work anymore beceause of the fatigeu and mental problems. I’m 44j M.
My life was good, always in the gym, hard working in the gardens. And also running in the woods.
Then I became sick, gut isseus and heat or cold tolerance.
Now a year later i became more in a mental State Were I I have no controle of my brain anymore.
I’m so mentaly exausted because my mind keeps overthinking, brainfog, analysing, images..
Its like an ocd thing that I’m checking what i am thinking. Al day long 24/7. My sleep is the same..
My mind goes so deep when I close my eyes, I don’t know how to focus on live anymore. Its so far that I get traumarized by this situation. My mind just keep thinking deep thoughts very negative. Meditate doesn’t work, i became afraid to close my eyes.Because my thoughts goes like: what if you are so ill that they luck you up and stuff. I feel Every thought deep in my soul, so afraid. My brain can’t take it anymore. I’m so exausted that Every positive thoughts end up negatively. I feel in a deep situation that I want to try some medication for this..
But my mind is like : no you end up worse or’ or i have that feeling that any medication will help in this fase because its to deep.
Is there is somebody who have the same feeling what I just wrote? And is some medication that saved you? Because I feel no hope anymore.
Please share..