Has anyone experienced burnout from work?

[LittlePinkPiglet]

Has anyone here experienced burnout from work? What does burnout actually feel like?
I’m at a point where I’m really beginning to struggle. Everything feels overwhelming, and I’m trying to understand whether what I’m experiencing is burnout.
I work in the care industry. Sometimes there is flexibility and a sense of balance in my role, but other times it becomes far, far too much, very quickly.
Last week was one of those times. I worked all week and late on Friday. On Saturday, I attended mandatory training all day, then went straight back into work that evening and worked until around 12.30am. I had been up since 6.30am to travel to the training. By that stage, I was utterly exhausted and every bone in my body ached. I also had to stay overnight and then work again early on Sunday morning.
When I finished on Sunday evening, I became unwell. I was completely wiped out and developed a migraine.
These kinds of stints happen regularly. I might have a period of calm and balance, but then it suddenly turns into long, demanding, nonstop stretches that feel intense and unsustainable.
Lately, every day feels like a hangover — even though I’m not drinking. I also know that another heavy stint is likely just around the corner. I don’t actively agree to extra work; it’s often added on or expanded after I’ve already committed to what was supposed to be a short or manageable shift.
I’m seriously considering changing jobs and possibly leaving the care sector altogether. I’m wondering if anyone here has worked in a similar role or experienced burnout. What did it feel like for you? And if you changed jobs, was the grass actually greener in another working environment?

Anyone?

Bump

Why on earth did no one reply to this? Did you leave care in the end or speak to someone about needing balance?

Something I have realised is that sick pay is there for a reason. Use your sick leave. Don't be afraid to do it. Any employer who prefers high staff turnover to a short period of absence is not very astute.

I and many others I know, have experienced burnout and/or mental health issues due to work at various times in our lives. We/They stopped being as effective and mistakes creep up - that's terrifying in a care environment.

Speak to your manager and/or HR about the need for balance and as a minimum: not piling on. If you agree to something, put it in writing and make clear when you expect the shift to end. Tell them you are not available after that.

Also retract any agreement to work beyond the max weekly hours.

And go off sick if need be. Use that time to see if there is anything else you want to do - or to just recover.

I got to the point I couldn’t look at emails or answer the phone as it meant someone needed something more from me and I didn’t have it to give. Not sleeping, feeling sick. Just coming through the other side but still panic if I think about it. Am meant to be filling in a job application just now and can’t do it.

Yes work burnout is a thing. And I tbink it affects people in different ways. For me I just felt so anxious about going in. I feel like I had come to my wits end with it all, i was exhausted and I ended up calling in sick saying I hurt my back but in fact I just needed a rest. Sadly I still feel thr same 3 years later whilst there have been manageable periods I am now looking to leave within the next 2 years (need to do 2 more years for pension purposes)