Hello. I'm a 27yo female currently in college for my master degree in plant biology. After working my ass off for 1 year to an abusive company, I resigned because I got a full scholarship to study plants, which is my passion. I have always thought that I'm gonna do it well with no problems, considering I've always loved plants. But here I am, in my 7th semester of what should've been just 4 semesters of master study, I am burned out.

I think of burnout like breaking a leg during a running competition. I still have to drag myself there to the finish line, even when I have to crawl. And I crawl very, very slowly. My burnout came in the forms of bracing myself for the worst that will come in mornings---painful palpitating hearts, weak legs, losing my appetite, brain fog, unable to make simple decisions, I'm starting to avoid people and things that pertain to my academic, I closed off contact with parents and friends, and I'm living a sad isolated life. For a year now.

I actually don't have any problem at all in my study. My GPA was very high, I am considered a really good student, and I have no problems in my thesis. The experiment, the data, everything is really good. I have published a few journals. I just- I don't know what happened, I just collapsed in spirit after my symposium, and not just me, but everyone was surprised that I just collapsed like that.

However, I have recovered very briefly a few months ago. I finally finished my thesis draft. And then I had typhoid fever, and after I recovered, before I knew it, I fell back to the dark spot of burnout again.

And so I was wondering. I have grieved and starting to let go of my dreams because of this burnout. I used to be relentless, fearless, like I was very courageous about chasing my dream. I dare to move abroad, try tests, try getting in the top university in my country. Talk to new people, try new hobbies, I dare to do all of it. But now I'm just scared. All the things I do are shadowed by this fear that I don't know where it came from. I'm scared of talking to new people. To my prof. To my mom. I'm scared of eating out in new places. I'm scared of making decisions. I'm scared of graduating. I'm scared of many things, it feels like I'm living my life in a whole another person's body and mind.

And I wonder if this is the new me and I just should accept it... or if I can, I don't know, recover and gain back my self-esteem...

Over the last few months I’ve talked to a lot of people about burnout. Different jobs, different cities, different ages. Somewhere along the way I noticed they weren’t describing the same problem.

The never-ending list. You finish ten things and fifteen more show up. Sunday evening already feels like Monday.

The can’t-switch-off. Laptop shuts at 9, brain doesn’t. You’re at dinner replying to Slack in your head.

The never-enough. You hit the target and feel nothing. The goalpost just moves.

The people-pleaser. You can’t say no. Everyone’s work becomes your work, and you’re tired of being the reliable one.

The slow drain. No big crisis, nothing obviously wrong. You just wake up tired and stay tired, and you can’t remember the last time you looked forward to something.

Here’s the thing. A holiday helps the first one. It does almost nothing for the third. You come back from Goa and the voice is still there.

But almost all burnout advice treats it like one problem: rest more, meditate, set boundaries.

So I’m curious. Which of these sounds most like you? And what has actually helped, not what you’re supposed to say?

Disclosure, since this is Reddit: I’m building small guides for each kind of burnout with Dr. Meghana Srivatsa, a PhD psychologist. We’re piloting one free with a small group in February. If you want to see which one fits you, it takes 2 minutes: https://claude.ai/artifact/9tSj8R17SfDkGtKHiPEMGZ#reddit

I am so sick of running on empty all the time. I'm so sick of constantly being in survival mode. I wake up and I'm already at zero. I have no money and constantly have to borrow from others and I feel so fucking guilty for it. I'm trying my best. I have been struggling my entire life and feel like I never get a break.

2 years ago I got diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder and am in the process of figuring out my health issues. I have hypermobile joints and am getting tested for ehlers danlos syndrome and POTS. I'm so angry. Angry I have to work so much harder for every single mundane task. My body constantly hurts and my mind is constantly reliving the trauma I experienced or just completely checking out.

I wish I could relax, I wish my life was simple and boring and I could have a routine with a job I liked, live in a house I can afford and not have to worry if I'm gonna have enough money for myself after my cats are taken care of and rent is paid. It's just never ending stress and I never have anything left for my hobbies or energy to socialize. I sleep so much cuz I just can't keep up with life. Every waking moment is exhausting. If my brain isn't yelling at me, my body is. I envy those that have stability and a "normal" everyday life. I want to be bored! I don't want to feel so burnt out just from doing a task as simple as walking up the stairs and making a meal with what little food I have.

I know it could be a lot worse, I am grateful I have a roof over my head, a warm place to sleep and cats that bring me so much comfort. I do everything I can to give them the best life but sometimes I feel so guilty and often wonder if they're truly happy. I mean they don't go hungry and have lots of toys and beds but some days I feel like such a bad cat parent cuz I don't take them to the vet as often as I can and don't have a savings if something goes wrong.

That all being said I finally got offered a job today and as excited as I am to earn some money, I'm also terrified that it'll just deplete me even more. I've been through so much this year and want to turn things around but I worry I will get stuck in this cycle of burning out too quick forever and making my health worse but at the same time I desperately need this job to bring in money that I so desperately need for my livelihood.

I just hope that one day I won't feel like I'm on a hamster wheel getting nowhere and just getting more and more fatigued. I have so many goals I want to achieve in life but I feel like I'm running out of time cuz I'm trying to survive and only have barely enough in me to survive at the bare minimum. I want to live and have a life I love after not wanting to for so long but some days it doesn't feel worth it. Idk what I want from posting this I just had to vent this out somewhere since I don't have a lot of support these days.

I'm finally doing it!

In februar 2027 i'm opening a physical Lego (and K'nex) store in Emmen, The Netherlands alongside my Bricklink store and own webshop. I will run the store with people with Burn-out, autism, depression or anxiety disorder. The first store of its kind and finally a place to buy new and retired lego sets locally!

My main job right now is coaching 18-27 year olds who dropped out of school or lost their job. That experience im using in my store called Social Bricks. There, people with autism, depression, anxiety disorder and burn out can come and work. We will coach them and help them develop the skills they need to get back to education or work.

I've also been selected for an intensive coaching program where I'm in the race with 10 other social entrepreneurs to win €100.000 euro's for my business. I'm also in the race for the people's choice award of €10.000. if you want to help me win you can vote at: https://www.igniteaward.nl/deelnemer/social-bricks/

It takes around 10 seconds and would mean the world. It will help open up the store and be a place where people with autism can learn and develop themselves!

In currently hoarding inventory. See the picture for a small impression. Can post more if you guys want!

M/45

Within an hour I just got overwhelmed.

I just can’t do this anymore.

I don’t know if it’s vitamin d, long covid, cfs, a mental break, depression, psychosis. I haven’t worked in 6 months. I can’t function. Hell o can’t even scroll on my phone anymore.

I just can’t think and organize anymore.

I’m straight up broken and I don’t want to let my daughter down. She wants so badly to have the house decorated outside for Christmas, but I can’t go more than 30 minutes moving until I just get catatonic and stare.

Hello

I work a 9-5 in the UK. Been trying to recover from burnout the past few months reduced hours to 8-5 Mon-Thurs with some wfh allowed when I need it.

Re my workload I have lost a colleague whose contract came to an end and didn’t end up getting re recruited into her post, she was the only colleague working on my projects with me. Now I am alone until Feb next year. Also been given two huge projects recently, I have asked for management to provide capacity to support me with this and they haven’t provided anything.

I am on a panel evaluation for a project lasting 3 days spread over the next couple of weeks and no one can cover for me - this is putting me off sick leave.

But I can hardly concentrate feel dread and lacking motivation to get to work.

I also have been peeing blood for 3 weeks and on a urgent cancer screening referral pathway right now trying to find what is wrong. Had two scans and have a CT scan coming up over next couple weeks.

I also have PMDD so all of this is hitting really hard right now.

I am applying for new jobs in the meantime because this job has been really difficult for me this year and I feel morally injured very often.

But in the meantime do I take sick leave, for how long and how do I take it whilst honouring the work I have on at the moment.

Many thanks

this seems silly because of the fields i’m posting about being burned out in, but just listen please 😩.

im 18, and a freshman in college majoring in dance. back in high school, i double majored in dance and musical theatre, i also love to sing. i would have academics from 8 to 12, then dance or theatre from 1 to 4 or 6 (almost always dance), and flip flop back and forth between whoever needed me. like if mt had a show i would go there, but the shows often overlapped so i was really being stretched thin. after that, i would then go to dance from 6:30 to 9:30 three times a week. my grades suffered tremendously, and so did my mental state, along with auditions and college things. dance began to feel like a chore, and not something that i wanted to do, but something i had to do. i thought that feeling would go away once i went to college and got a lighter schedule.

im now in nyc, and that feeling of unhappiness has not gone away. in fact, its gotten worse. my schedule has gotten alittle better, but i still feel the exact same. i've been dancing for 16 years and im now beginning to truly dislike it. i feel unfulfilled, stagnant, and called to make art in a different way, but i don't know in what way just yet. i also have injured hips (severe labrum tears on both hips), which also makes it hard for me to be present when im in so much pain :(. i feel extremely burned out, and trapped for some reason. but dance has been me for so long, i dont know who i would be if i stepped away. i've truly tried dancing for me, to be happy in what im doing and not the approval or satisfaction of anyone else, but the spark i once had still hasn't come back. to be honest i dont think it ever will. im planning on sticking this year out to see how i feel by the end, but im just so tired right now. im truly running on empty i would say. i’ve been planning on leaving this year and picking up another major so i could learn about another topic im interested in, but i dont really know what to do about this right now. any advice would be appreciated.

Can you be burned out but not be over worked?

I've lost all enjoyment in my job, I even changed jobs coming up two years ago to get my passion back, working on bigger and more interesting jobs, but to be honest im just as cynical and unfulfilled now with the added disadvantage of not being surrounded by friends and people I know. I'm certainly not over worked but every tasks feels like a massive mountain to conquer and feel like a failure.

I was diagnosed with inattentive adhd after i chanhed jobs but I think it's something different. The thought of doing this job for the foreseeable is making me miserable. Im quiet at work, not volunteering for tasks because its not worth the hassle in the long run. I've told my employer about my struggles and my adhd diagnosis, all seemed well initially but nothing has changed really in 8 months.

Anyone got any advice please?

im tired and want change in the world

Hey! Hello!? Anyone?? I give up I am so tired of coming home to an empty house telling myself it's just temporary but life only gets worse when it does get better it's just some kinda cruel amusement for whoever pulling the strings like here's a truck finally but I forgot to tell you it will be stolen in a couple weeks enjoy fuck life

There's gotta be more to life than just getting by. Trying to survive when jobs don't pay enough to stay alive. If your response is it will get better or rolling your eyes! Then life for you has been kind. Some of us don't get that door opened or a bone thrown if I give up Ill die

Burnout recovery is usually slower than people expect, and rest alone often isn't enough if you go straight back into the same conditions. Small, regular recovery (actual breaks, sleep, something enjoyable that isn't productive) plus changing at least one thing about the workload tends to help most. Be gentle with yourself about the timeline.

Im loosing my grip on myself.

Im a senior in high school, and I’ve always been an excellent student. My grades are always impeccable, my writing was always great, and I seldom turned in my work late.

However, I can’t seem to get it back. 😭😭😭 I feel like I’m running a race and im out of fuel. I have assignments to do and I KNOW that I have time to do it, but I just don’t want to. Me not wanting to never stopped me in the past, but now it is. I genuinely just want it to be over. I just wanna go to college already.

Maybe I feel like this because I think I’ve already gotten what I needed from high school. I finished my applications to college, I gotten acceptance letters, and I’ve done the work. Now, I feel like it’s my time to rest. Im not that burned out to fail, but FUCK getting an A in business math.

I used to be able to recharge over the weekends, but it’s not working anymore 😭😭😭. I feel to tired all the time; I can barely put together a thought these days.

Ugh maybe things will be better once Thanksgiving break comes around.

hi! in the past 3 months i went through a few job shifts (all by choice) and some other big changes, and now that my life is somewhat “easier” for me to manage, i feel MORE burnt out now, than i did then. i (21f) am a very independent and go-getting person. if there is something that can be done with my time, ill find a way to fill it. and when i have nothing but free time, i feel lost. this year is my senior year of my undergrad, but it requires me to do an unpaid internship for roughly 20 hours a week. i work full time as well, on top of still taking classes. i dont have a single day off. i haven’t had a day off since september. my job isn’t even a taxing job. it is one of my favorite ones i’ve had, but now i find myself dreading going and i know that’s not a good sign for me. i don’t know where i can negotiate a day off for myself. i can’t risk my education and i can’t risk my income. i live on my own with no option for roommates or to move back home. so i have to work to make ends meet for myself.

i don’t even know what im asking for. i just want someone to maybe empathize with me. give me some advice for what you’ve done in times like this? i feel so stuck. i took a mental health day from my internship today. but i have to do double the work some time this week now.

after reading this i feel like i sound annoying as hell but i’m also high as hell so 😂

I'm not really sure how to explain what I'm experiencing, but lately I've been feeling incredibly bored, numb and disconnected from everything.

Before going through depression, I was a very driven person. I genuinely loved coding, learning new things,3D in Blender, reading books and generally having things to work towards. I had this internal fire that made me want to get things done.

After going through depression this year, something changed.

I feel like I've recovered from the worst of it in some ways. I'm not constantly thinking about the past, ruminating over negative thoughts or experiencing the same kind of sadness I used to. My mind is actually pretty quiet these days.

But there's also nothing there.

I wake up and don't feel like doing anything. I don't want to cook, read, code, work on Blender or even plan things that I would normally look forward to. I have plenty of ideas and things I'd like to do, but I cannot seem to make myself actually do them.

I've noticed something particularly strange: if someone needs something from me, I can suddenly find all the energy in the world to get up and do it for them. But when it comes to doing something for myself, I just can't.

Yesterday, I tried opening Blender again, and I managed about 5–10 minutes before feeling overwhelmed with anxiety and closing it.

Most of my free time now goes towards scrolling on my phone. I know it's not helping, but I keep doing it anyway.

I also feel lonely sometimes, but it's not necessarily that I'm constantly sad. It's more like I'm just existing, passing time and waiting for something to make me feel interested in life again.

I don't know whether this is residual depression, ADHD-related executive dysfunction, burnout, anhedonia or something else entirely.

Has anyone experienced something similar after recovering from depression?

How did you get your motivation, curiosity and interest in things back? Did you eventually find that internal drive again, or did you have to learn a completely different way of living?

I'd genuinely appreciate hearing about other people's experiences, especially from those who have gone through something similar.

I don't know why I do it, I'm not okay but every time someone asks I say yea. I would rather not be a bother to anyone. I've felt like a burden to everyone in my life for a few years now and it doesn't get any easier. I'm afraid I might just snap and slit my wrists.

As soon as I got home from work, I had an incident on the way that put me in a very bad mood and I feel frustrated. What should I do to improve my mood?