Girlbossed Too Hard: A Personal Experience of Burnout and the Impacts

Going through intense burnout is extremely difficult, mentally, emotionally, physically and spirtually.

What's even more difficult is explaining what your needs are, and what you are going through to others who dont understand the severity and intensity of the burnout process. I would consider myself a "high-performer" a person who fails to never be taking on 400 activities at once, people constantly ask me, how do you manage so many different things at once? The answer is I do not, I take on too much, I burnout and then the cycle tends to repeat itself. This time has been different, my burnout has lasted a solid 6 months and counting. It is is an immense struggle to deal with the:

Depression

Social Withdrawal

Extreme Fatigue

Inability to form a single thought/idea

Feeling to much all at once, a lot of the time, and constant emotional dysregulation.

I find it really difficult during these periods to be consumed in social media, because I see the amazing things people around my age are doing, and I consistently hold myself to a standard that I may not be able to achieve in this state. For me, its easy to get burnt out from the pressure I put on myself to get things done, or dealing with daily sensory overload, the chronic overwhelm, working, and constantly facing challenges with accommodations, accessibility, and just its a process over time, that begins to spiral, and before you know it, you have overworked the whole entirety of your brain and body.

In times of burnout, I've learned to use this as an opportunity to just accept the well-deserved break that your body needs, and provides you with a time to reflect that, we are all on our own journeys, and there is no one holding me hostage telling me: "YOU BETTER PREFORM" or others are going to perceive you in a certain way. Neurotypical expectations, competitive academic environments and living in a capitalistic world, puts the unnecessary pressure. Success can only be defined by your own individual needs, goals, free from the pressure and expectations.

Resources for those Struggling with Burnout:

Ontario Mental Health Supports: https://www.ontario.ca/page/find-mental-health-support

National Resources Mental Health Supports: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/mental-health-services/mental-health-get-help.html

Kids Help Phone: Call 1-800-668-6868 or visit: https://kidshelpphone.ca/