Depression or burnout

Totally hearing you @Anxious_Mumma

Sounds like a lot on your plate.

I cannot say whether you are experiencing depression or burnout as it takes a lot more to know than from a post.

However, I can share from my experiences that some of what you shared was consistent with my work burnout in the past as well as it being a sign that it was time for me to move on from that role.

I ended up getting support from an EAP counsellor because I felt I'd 'failed' in my job in that I was another 'fallen statistic'. The counsellor was able to support me to see that rather than having 'failed', 'my eyes were opened' and that's why it was time for me to move on.

I've never looked back since because I couldn't be happier.

I have to say though, if these feelings are prolonged, it would be worth going to a doc to see if it is depression, anxiety or anything else.

I just want you to know you are not alone in what you are experiencing. Thank you for opening up and trusting us with your story.

Thank you tyme.

My workplace actually has a EAP in place and I'm waiting to be matched with a psychologist from the service.

I've been with the company for 19 years and thought I could handle anything it throws at me, but this has thrown me for a six and has floored me.

Hoping the EAP psychologist can help

I was only JUST looking at a training resource @Anxious_Mumma and this is how they described burnout:

"Burnout is a term used to describe a psychological response that is linked to the experience of cumulative stress. It can happen to anyone in any line of work and is not specific to working with those who have experienced trauma. Workers often feel exhausted and overloaded and as if they have limited support from colleagues, managers or the organisations they work for. It is often described as feeling exhausted and overwhelmed, cynical and detached from work. In addition, workers experiencing burnout often feel ineffective in the job, and lack feelings of accomplishment."

Thank you tyme.

It does sound like a bit what I'm going through but I've also got low mood, feeling inadequate, low energy to much of anything so maybe it's both.

Will see what the EAP psychologist says.

Let us know how things go @Anxious_Mumma . Thinking of you.

So I have had the first appointment. It was with a social worker not a psych. The social worker has 30 years of experience working in the mental health space and was nice.

Will see how that goes. I only get 4 sessions with my EAP.

Most days it takes all my mental energy to get up and then get everyone ready for the day, leaving me running on empty for the rest of the day.

The social worker did confirm that he thinks im burnt out, but i still have a feeling there is more there.

Im still working, although everyday is a push and i feel like im letting the team down somehow.

Hi @Anxious_Mumma glad to hear that the appointment with the social worker went well.

I can really relate to that feeling of wondering whether you're experiencing burnout or depression. I went through a period of burnout a couple of years ago at another job and I remember talking to a supervisor about how I was feeling and they stopped me and asked if I might be going through a period of depression. I'd never experienced depression before and lots of my symptoms were ticking those boxes so I was a bit skeptical when my GP seemed pretty sure that I had burnout. I didn't know how similar burn out and depression could seem at the time.

For me I was able to confirm it was actually burnout because my GP instructed me to take time away from work (I was luckily able to access workcover because of my working conditions at the time, though this was a pain in itself) which helped my symptoms a lot. It didn't mean that I was all better after taking 2 weeks off work, it was still a slow process, but it did make a significant difference which let me know that it definitely was burnout that I was dealing with, rather than depression.

It sounds like you're taking some good steps in getting support already, and I hope that you do start to see some improvement soon

It sounds like you’re going through something really heavy. It’s genuinely tough to carry so much, especially when you’ve also got children relying on you.

What you’re describing - emotional exhaustion, disconnection, trouble sleeping, loss of motivation, and that hollow, drained feeling - can be signs of both burnout and depression, and they often overlap. Burnout is usually linked to work stress, but if it goes on for too long, it can tip over into depression. The fact that you’re disassociating and struggling with basic daily tasks might suggest it’s more than just burnout at this point.

You’re not alone in this, and it’s okay to feel how you’re feeling. The most important thing now is getting support. If you’re finding it hard to get through the day, especially when you’re responsible for others too, it might help to speak with a psychologist or GP. They can help figure out exactly what’s going on and guide you through ways to start feeling like yourself again - even if it’s just one small step at a time.

Please take care of yourself, and know that reaching out (like you’ve done here) is already a strong first step.

Thank you @mr_stevens

I'm currently seeing a social worker through my work's EAP. Next appointment is Friday.

Had yet another breakdown at work over the stress of the workload. Why can't I handle this when I have in the past 😞

I'm worried I've jepadised my job and pay rise speaking up

Hey @Anxious_Mumma ,

Sorry to hear how hard things have been for you. I'm glad you've been able to reach out to your EAP for some support.

I've also done this in the past and found it so so helpful that I could have all these appointments at my convenience.

I always thought EAP were useless, but having used them, it's pretty good. It's good to get a different perspective of things.

As for the pay rise etc, I hope your job respects you for speaking up. If they don't, it makes me question whether it's a job you'd really want to stay in. It's like you can't speak up so you have your wings clipped....

Looking forward to hearing how things go for you 🙂