Anyone else running on empty?

[Leodrune]

I was, up until recently a very healthy person. I eat really well, consider myself very fit snd I take care of myself.

Or so I thought. In the past week I’ve come down with a very nasty cold that has floored me. It’s not Covid, but it’s nasty. I’ve never been like this before.

I think the past year and a half has caught up with me. I worked throughout the pandemic as a key worker, not NHS, I’m the one everyone calls to offload their Covid angst and I’m just knackered. I feel like I’m running on the fumes in the bottom of my tank.

I’m sitting here avoiding phone calls from people/ relatives who want a listening ear, even though they know I’m sick.

I also reckon my immune system is shot to bits. When they were worried about everyone getting the flu, I can see why now. A weeks change in weather and according to my doctor, this nasty cold bug is ripping through.

Anyone else spent?

Unfortunately yes, I'm also empty.

This year has just been the worse. Covid/lockdown/homeschooling whilst working, just started the year off in a bad place. Followed by car problems, financial woes. Topped off with MIL becoming terminally ill and passing. Grief, childcare problems as she helped out loads (I feel dreadful for even saying that but it has been an issue) and tidying up her estate. Lots and lots of work problems, people in the team I manage having problems, mediation, people leaving, recruitment, not managing to recruit/fill the post, ongoing short staffing.

I am completely worn out. I've been running on empty for months now in that I can't do it anymore. Don't know what the answer is, I just keep hoping that it will get better soon, but then I get hit by something else.

Think the impact of the last couple of years is only just being felt by poeple. I know a lot of poeple have lost their enthusiasm for anything. I'm not normally like this, I can normally shake things off and carry on, but this time I'm really low.

Yup, me too - and like you I'm normally the resilient one that keeps going come-what-may...

take whatever moments of rest are on offer and prioritise looking after yourself for a change, I think that's the only way through this!

Mentally yes, running on fumes and sarcasm. I'm clearly going out in sympathy with my car.

Yep. Have a 1 year old and 3 year old. Made redundant during Mat leave. Just started a new job and I’m panicking about being fired because we have also just moved into a bigger house with a bigger mortgage. I’m so poorly but don’t want to take time off sick from the new job. Am on annual leave today but still had work contacting me with questions. I just want to lie in bed and cry.

Yes!!

Yes . I now cannot be arsed with calling people and get annoyed if anyone calls me …apart from my children ! Have always been outgoing and gregarious but I am now struggling to be sociable 🙄

Tbf there is an absolutely stinking cold doing the rounds. Our family have had it and it has been horrendous.

I’m the same. Dealing with stressful, important things at work and within my family and just feeling wrung out. I also have a nasty cold type thing with added diarrhoea and stomach pain. Went for a PCR test this morning to be sure and now waiting for the results. I’m a teacher and have been around lots of people with Covid over the past few weeks.

I’m aware that I’m very short of patience both at home and school at the moment. Got home this evening and was locked out in the rain until DH nipped home to let us in. Then I made myself a big mug of coffee and managed to knock the whole lot over onto the floor. I yelled and kicked stuff in An absolute rage at myself until I saw DD (8)’s worried face.

DH is also working really hard at the moment but has sent me to bed and is doing the kids’ tea, washing etc. My pjs are on, the cat is here with me and I’m going to try to sleep off the day.

Hope you’re all able to take care of yourselves too this evening.

Yep, 25 years of chronic disease which had been in remission until 18 months ago. So 18 months of really poor health, working in the NHS, the pandemic, teenagers, keyworker DH and elderly parents. I've never felt this low and there's fuck all I can do to change anything.

Me too. I’ve had the same cold as have the kids. Its exhausting.

I hope you feel better soon.

Yes - very much yes (sorry to say). Running increasingly on fumes and wondering how so many others seem to be back to their “normal’ selves. I am still working remotely and still struggling with that. My mind races and I have to work hard to stay balanced and focussed.

It’s not just you!

I feel utterly f*cked at the moment. Just got over norovirus bug, been caring for others in the household with it, cleaning constantly, making dinners, toilet training, dog walking, etc. Sleep deprived, as one of the DC has chicken pox too. Had several nights now of not sleeping right. Shadow of myself.

You have my sympathies 💐

Yep.

Can’t even explain exactly why but long work days, working from home, not getting enough time to eat right or exercise, a couple of health worries, ageing parents, hormonal child, bored, fed up, restless, exhausted and on and on.

I have had a cold since the kids have been back at school (couple of weeks). They are all full time now and I thought I would be doing something productive with my time. I get home and all I want to do is sleep, my throat is sore and I just feel off. I feel tremendously down about it. The kids at school are dropping like flies. Someone is always ill. I work part time in a supermarket and I can’t believe the amount of staff, customers, children who are hacking their guts up. Even my SIL who lives a couple of hours drive has described the same thing.

Yes, I am really struggling the past week or so.

Ive lost all my energy, feel overwhelmed & exhausted at the thoughts of doing anything that requires any bit of effort. I just want to hide away from everyone & everything. Feeling very anti social & irritable.

I cant even explain it as my life is pretty low stress & Ive nothing to complain about.

Im hoping its a blip & I will start regaining my zest for life soon as I hate feeling this way.

I'm exhausted , my friends and family are finding life tremendously difficult for various reasons too.

I think a lot of it is because everybody has been carrying on without proper breaks , no holidays to look forward to , and knowing that everything is costing more this winter isn't helping at all.

I do hope things start to look up for us all soon.

Yup, peri menopause, stressful job in public sector, have worked in the office through pandemic, used to be very active but shit weather and dark evenings won’t help, 2 kids left for uni at the same time, health worries, I’m done

Me too. I am off work with stress and starting cbt this week. I am usually so resilient and calm but I just couldn't keep it together anymore. I really want to go back to work but I know I would be crying every day. I really hope cbt will help.

Yup. Exhausted. Everything seems to be personally and globally bad news at the moment. I just keep waiting for the next awful thing.

I’m not sleeping well and I wake up every single morning with a feeling of dread and anxiety. I can’t stress enough how this isn’t like me at all. I’m normally really cheerful and upbeat with loads of energy.

I’m throwing multi vits and vitamin d down all our throats. Lots of early nights and nice teas for everyone so trying the self care route but nothing seems to be working . I’ve even given up the small amount of alcohol I drink in case that’s a contributory factor!

to you all. To quote a mn phrase “and this too shall pass” I bloody hope

Glad I found this thread. Another one that's caught this horrible cold. DC also been ill with it, especially poor DS (3) who has not been able to sleep for coughing (so I haven't either). Work is hugely stressful and I've been making mistakes under pressure. Anxiety is creeping up and I just feel overwhelmed, all of the time. And it's weird because actually, my pace of life is probably slower than it was when I was in the office full time pre pandemic! But then I wasn't so focused on being in the house, we had a cleaner and enjoyed catching up as a family at the end of the day. Now me and DH have both been working from home since it all began, and it is definitely taking its toll on our marriage.

Also dreading the winter months ahead, it doesn't sound like there's much to be excited by...

Definitely need a holiday. Feels like the stress has just been building and even though we are slowly returning to some kind of normal, recovery is slow.

for you all.

It does all feel like doom and gloom, with nothing to look forward to. I have a big birthday coming up and I’d normally be planning a city break abroad but I can’t face it and can’t get excited about my birthday at all. As for Christmas can’t even contemplate it at the moment

although we all have our individual challenges to deal with as well, a lot of this must be "the situation" mustn't it...reading everyone's posts I'm nodding along with almost everything you're all saying...and I think some of us, mostly but not exclusively women, are now realising how exhausted we are having worked hard to keep the whole show (family, work, everything else) on the road for the last couple of years.

Anxiety and the glooms have been creeping up on me for the last few weeks, but this last couple of days everything has got much worse for some reason...am wondering whether to try and soldier on or ask the doc for some more happy pills

Yes. I'm not ill but my DDs behaviour is tipping me I've the edge. Work is getting to me as we took the flak for all furloughed staff and never got acknowledged for it. The furloughed staff were thanked for their patience though.

I’m in exactly the same boat. I’m one of those people who just get on with it, super resilient, nothing phases me. Good old reliable Fandango. And yet I’ve burst into tears at work again this week over the slightest set back. No one including me knows what to do because it’s just so unlike me.

DS is off sick again, which isn’t helping. I’ve not managed to work uninterrupted without having to collect him or have him isolate for more than a fortnight since march 2020. And I’m running a low grade sore throat that’s not COVID but which will not go away.

I have no idea what to do but at least how I’m feeling seems to be very normal.

Fit your own oxygen mask first, and take a step back from the news and doomscrolling.